Investigation of the composition and morphology of individual particles of portland cement paste: 1. CSH gel and calcium hydroxide particles

Abstract

This investigation represents an attempt to combine analytical electron microscope analysis of the composition of individual particles separated from hydrated portland cements with a micromorphological examination of the same particles using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The particles described here are all referrable to the CSH gel type III category, or to impure calcium hydroxide. Variations in composition turned out to be substantial, not only from one CSH gel particle to another, but between different small regions of the same fragment of gel.