Nanomechanical Performance of Interfacial Transition Zone in Fiber Reinforced Cement Matrix

Abstract

This paper shows a micromechanical study of interfacial transition zone (ITZ) around steel fiber in cement paste. It investigates microstructure and mechanical performance of the ITZ by a combination of nanoindentation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The investigated specimens were made from cement CEM I 42.5R paste with dispersed reinforcement in the form of steel fiber TriTreg 50 mm. The SEM demonstrated larger porosity and smaller portion of clinkers in the ITZ. Nanoindentation delivered values of elastic modulus, hardness and creep parameters around the fiber. An average value of elastic modulus in ITZ was at the level of 67% in comparison with cement bulk and the width of ITZ was about 40 µm. The value of hardness was found to be 60% of the average hardness of the bulk cement paste. The measured load-displacement curves were used for calculation of creep indentation parameter (CIT) and the creep compliance function. An average value of the creep compliance in the ITZ was found to be two times higher than in the cement bulk.