AUTHOR

Ignacio Segura Pérez,
Amparo Moragues Terrades y José Javier Anaya Velayos

Instituto de Automática Industrial - CSIC

ABSTRACT

The main object of this research work has been to characterize the microstructure of cement-based materials by using destructive techniques, in order to obtain a detailed description of physical and chemical characteristics of those materials. This characterization will be used to understand and correlate the results obtained with other characterization techniques, mainly non-destructive techniques. This work has been sub-divided in two parts. First one presents a detailed description of the main microstructural characteristics of cement-based materials which will be used in further microstructural characterization. The main characteristics of the hydration of clinker compounds and the main hydrated phases are presented. Also are described the characteristics of the porous microstructure and the effect generated in the hydration processes and the developing of porosity by the interfacial transition zone of aggregates and hydrated paste. In the second part it will be presented the experimental work developed.