CHARACTERIZATION OF CEMENT PORE STRUCTURE USING WOOD'S METAL AND MERCURY POROSIMETRY

Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) is a widely used technique for characterization of pore size distribution in cement-based materials. Limitations of MIP include systematic error of the method due to the "ink-bottle" effect whereby the size of internal pores is determined by the smallest opening used to access the internal pores. A second limitation is the shape assumption (i.e., cylindrical shaped pores) used in MIP that bears little resemblance to real cement microstructure. The toxicity and liquidity of mercury at room temperatures makes it impossible to use microscopy on intruded samples. Intrusion using molten Wood's metal (melting temperature=65.5 deg C) allows us to use SEM and imaging techniques to assess true size and shape of intruded pores. By using intrusion pressures from 0-5000 psi (0-34,475 kPa) for the Wood's metal intrusion, the important range of the MIP test can be studied. The study provides insight for better interpretation of MIP results, and quantitative characterization of the spatial geometry of pores in cement-based materials.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0784403252
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Lange, D A
  • Abell, A B
  • Willis, K L
  • Powell, S
• Conference:
  • Imaging Technologies: Techniques and Applications in Civil Engineering. Second International Conference
  • Location: Davos, Switzerland
  • Date: 1997-5-25 to 1997-5-30
• Publication Date: 1998

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 197-206

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electron microscopy; Image processing; Mercury; Metals; Pore size distribution; Porosimeters; Quantitative analysis; Wood products
• Candidate Terms: Imaging systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Interpretation; Intrusion; Mercury porosimetry; Scanning electron microscopy
• Old TRIS Terms: Cement-based materials; Molten wood's metal
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I35: Miscellaneous Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00750000
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0784403252
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 17 1998 12:00AM