STUDY OF PORTLAND CEMENT FRACTURE SURFACES BY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUES

An extensive scanning microscopy study was carried out with respect to the fracture surfaces of portland cement hydrated for various times. It is shown that the two major products of hydration are calcium silicate hydrate spherulites, which consist of radiating fibres and calcium hydroxide platelets. These fibres bond with one another to hold the spherulites together. The volume between the spherulites consists of calcium hydroxide platelets. The fracture is frequently found to be across the weakly bonded basal planes of the calcium hydroxide, and is believed to limit the strength of the portland cement. /Author/TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Chapman and Hall Limited

  11 New Fetter Lane
  London,   England 
• Authors:
  • Walsh, D
  • Otooni, M A
  • TAYLOR, M E
  • Marcinkowski, M J
• Publication Date: 1974

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 423-429
• Serial:
  • Journal of Materials Science
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Chapman and Hall Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium; Calcium hydroxide; Cement; Chemical bond; Electron microscopes; Electronics; Failure; Fracture mechanics; Hydration; Hydroxides; Microscopes; Portland cement; Silicates; Strength of materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fracture
• ITRD Terms: 7178: Calcium; 4758: Cement; 6965: Electronics; 5520: Failure; 7195: Hydration; 7354: Hydroxide; 6790: Microscope; 7303: Silicate
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Planning and Forecasting; I32: Concrete; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00097963
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 18 1975 12:00AM