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Methods for Porosity Characterization of Cement Based Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2012

M.M. Canut  and
M. R. Geiker
M.M. Canut
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK
M. R. Geiker
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK Department of Structural Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO
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Abstract

Important pore structure parameters related to mechanical properties and durability of cement-based materials can be determined by techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and low temperature calorimetry (LTC). The methods provide information on porosity characteristics as pore volume, pore thresholds and/or pore size distribution in different size ranges and do therefore to a large extent supplement each other. Pastes of w/b=0.4 with 0%, 40% or 70% slag by volume were cured saturated at 20ºC for up to two years. The porosity was characterized by LTC, MIP, and SEM. Higher volume of pores was obtained by MIP compared to results obtained using LTC and SEM. Measured porosity was correlated with predicted porosity using information on the density and degree of hydration of the cement and slag. Porosity estimation showed best agreement with the porosity data measured by MIP. The use of slag showed the same trend for all tests: a higher total volume of pores, but a lower threshold pore size when compared with Portland cement paste. The findings illustrate the importance of measuring not only pore volume but also threshold pore sizes when characterizing porosity of cement-based materials with different binder compositions.

Keywords

compositeporosityporosimetry
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1488: Symposium 7B – Concrete with Smart Additives and Supplementary Cementitious Materials , 2012 , imrc12-1488-7b-046
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012 

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References

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