Abstract
In this study, the micromechanical response of two cementitious composites was characterized by nanoindentation. Pure Portland cement paste and Portland cement with 50 vol. % replaced with granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) paste were investigated at the age of 28 days. Grid nanoindentation, statistical deconvolution and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the main hydration products. Several grids with approximately 500 indents on each sample were performed to obtain modulus of elasticity, hardness and creep indentation parameter. Similar mechanical phases containing calcium silica hydrate, crystalline calcium hydroxide and un-hydrated clinker were found in both samples varying by volume fraction. Blended cement, moreover, contains a phase of slag hydration products with a significantly lower modulus of elasticity. This phase with a high portion of unreacted GBFS is mostly responsible for the difference of mechanical properties of the whole composite.
Highlights
Concrete is one of the most used materials in the construction industry
Statistical deconvolution was used on experimental data of modulus of elasticity to calculate the mechanical phases of the samples
The main phase, labeled #2 is primarily formed by inner product, the Gauss peak overlaps with neighboring phases this phase contains some portion of outer product and Portlandite. #3 includes primarily Portlandite and small amount of un-hydrated clinker particles
Summary
Concrete is one of the most used materials in the construction industry. One of its ingredients is Portland cement which is one of the major producers of carbon dioxide. One of the most common admixtures is blast furnace slag which is created as a by-product of iron making as a liquid at 1350–1550 °C. If this liquid is cooled rapidly, it forms a glass which is a latent hydraulic cement. This study concentrates on the characterization of individual hydration products of pure Portland cement and cement with slag admixtures. It compares the micromechanical response and creep parameters of individual hydration products
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