X-Ray Microtomography of an ASTM C-109 mortar exposed to sulfate attack, Microstructure of Cement-Based Systems/Bonding and Interfaces in Cementitious Materials, 1995 Reference: D.P. Bentz, N.S. Martys, P.E. Stutzman, M.S. Levenson, E.J. Garboczi, J. Dunsmuir, and L.M. Schwartz, in Microstructure of Cement-Based Systems/Bonding and Interfaces in Cementitious Materials, Vol. 370, edited by S. Diamond et al. (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, 1995), pp. 77-82.
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X-Ray Microtomography of an ASTM C-109 mortar exposed to sulfate attack

D.P. Bentz, N. S. Martys, P. Stutzman, E.J. Garboczi
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, Building 226 Room B-350
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA

M. S. Levenson
Computing and Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Building 101 Room A-337
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA

J. Dunsmuir
Exxon Research and Engineering Company
Route 22 East, Annandale, NJ 08801 USA

L. M. Schwartz
Schlumberger-Doll Research, Old Quarry Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877

Abstract

X-ray microtomography can be used to generate three-dimensional 5123 images of random materials at a resolution of a few micrometers per voxel. This technique has been used to obtain an image of an ASTM C109 mortar sample that had been exposed to a sodium sulfate solution. The three-dimensional image clearly shows sand grains, cement paste, air voids, cracks, and needle-like crystals growing in the air voids. Volume fractions of sand and cement paste determined from the image agree well with the known quantities. Implications for the study of microstructure and proposed uses of X-ray microtomography on cement-based composites are discussed.



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