Evolution of Cement Microstructure

Increasingly greater magnification images of a concrete microstructure using backscattered electron imaging. Lower magnification images clearly show silicious and carbonate aggregate, hydration products, residual cement, and cracking. Higher magnification images allow one to discriminate between phases withing the hardened cement phase – CH, inner and outer product CSH, AFM (with some platy parting), and changes in coarse capillary porosity.