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Application of image analysis based on SEM and chemical mapping on PC mortars under sulfate attack

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Abstract

The degradation mechanisms of cementitious materials exposed to sulfate solutions have been controversial, despite considerable research. In this paper, two methodologies of image analysis based on scanning electron microscope and chemical mapping are used to analyse Portland cement mortars exposed to sodium sulfate solution. The effects of sulfate concentration in solution and water to cement ratio of mortar, which are considered as the most sensitive factors to sulfate attack, are investigated respectively by comparing the macro expansion with microstructure analysis. It is found that the sulfate concentration in pore solution, expressed as sulfate content in C-S-H, plays a critical role on the supersaturation with respect to ettringite and so on the expansion force generated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China

    Cheng Yu  (于诚), Wei Sun  (孙伟) & Scrivener Karen

  2. Jiangsu Key Lab of Construction Material, Nanjing, 211189, China

    Cheng Yu  (于诚) & Wei Sun  (孙伟)

  3. Laboratory of Construction Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Ecublens, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Cheng Yu  (于诚) & Scrivener Karen

Authors
  1. Cheng Yu  (于诚)
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  2. Wei Sun  (孙伟)
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  3. Scrivener Karen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Sun  (孙伟).

Additional information

Founded by National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No.2009CB623203), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51078186), Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation (No.BK2010071)

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Yu, C., Sun, W. & Karen, S. Application of image analysis based on SEM and chemical mapping on PC mortars under sulfate attack. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit. 29, 534–539 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-014-0953-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-014-0953-0

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