Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2011
Partial replacement of cement by fly-ash allows the production of concretes with high strength and low permeability. The correct analysis and prediction of engineering behaviour requires a knowledge of the development of pore-structure of these materials. However, a study of the relationships between engineering and microstructural characteristics has revealed problems in the accurate assessment of pore-structure.
Porosities of plain and blended pastes were analysed by both helium pycnometry and mercury porosimetry. Pastes showing pozzolanic reaction gave values of helium porosity whidh were different from the mercury porosity (measured on the same sample); pastes showing no pozzolanic reaction gave equal values for mercury and helium porosity. Also, significant differences in porosity and pore-size distribution were found for identical specimens when prepared by different techniques, namely direct oven-drying and solventreplacement; these differences occurred whether there was pozzolanic reaction or not.
It is suggested that as well as experimental difficulties, there may be fundamental differences in the way pore-structure develops in plain and blended cement pastes.