Microstructural Evaluation Research Articles

Comprehensive evaluation of microstructure and mechanical performance of sustainable ambient-cured alkali-activated composites

Cement is one of the building materials that is most frequently utilized in the construction field. However, the cement industry contributes significantly to the production of greenhouse gases. Therefore, many works have focused on improving sustainable construction materials that could contribute to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to design a sustainable geopolymer mortar (GPM) made of fly ash (FA) and ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), which would be suitable for repairing damaged concrete structures. The work focused on investigating the effect of GGBS percentage, alkaline activator ratio, and superplasticizer dosage on the compressive strength, setting time, and workability of an ambient-cured GPM. The results of this research indicated that the compressive strength of GPM improved with the increase in GGBS percentage until a certain limit. However, the workability and setting time deteriorated with the increase in GGBS percentage. Increasing the alkaline activator ratio contributed to improving the compressive strength, workability, and setting time of GPM up to specific levels, but then they started to reduce. Superplasticizer dosage contributed to enhancing the compressive strength, workability, and setting time of GPM. This study found that the optimum FA/GGBS-based GPM that may be used in repair applications contains 50% GGBS, 50% FA, and 5% superplasticizer. The silica sand/binder ratio and alkaline activator ratio were 2.75 and 1.0, respectively. The compressive strength at 1 day, setting time, and workability of the optimum mix were about 12.70 MPa, 20 min, and 138.75 mm, respectively. The XRF, XRD, TGA, and SEM analyses were useful tools used to interpret the effects of the alkaline activator ratio on the fresh and mechanical properties of GPM.

Synthesis, mechanical characterization, and biocompatibility evaluation of Graphene-TiO2 reinforced alumina for biomedical applications

The study addresses the limited fracture toughness of Al2O3 ceramics by developing graphene-TiO2 reinforced alumina nanocomposites through pressing. Mechanical properties, including hardness, fracture toughness, and elasticity, were examined, alongside the structural characterization via XRD analysis and microstructure evaluation using SEM. Cytotoxicity and cell adhesion tests were conducted for in vitro biological evaluation. The inclusion of a graphene additive led to a nearly threefold increase in fracture toughness, reaching up to 8.161 MPa m1/2. Graphene doping induced a discernible shift to lower angles in the XRD pattern, revealing the presence of Al2O3, Al2TiO5, and TiO2 phases. Samples immersed in artificial body fluid for 14 days exhibited minimal ion release, with Titanium ion below 0.001 mg/L and aluminum ion below 0.05 mg/L, indicating a lack of significant ion release. The cytotoxic activity of the samples against NIH/3T3 cells was assessed through Alamar Blue analysis, revealing no significant change in cell viability after 48 h of exposure.

Structural, mechanical, corrosion, and early biological assessment of tantalum nitride coatings deposited by reactive HiTUS

This study examined microstructure, mechanical, corrosion properties and initial biological evaluation of the tantalum nitride (Ta-xN, where x – nitrogen flow rate during deposition) coatings prepared by reactive High Utilization Sputtering (HiTUS) at various nitrogen flow rates (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 sccm). Coatings were deposited on a novel Mg alloy (Mgbal.-Zn0.9-Y2.05-Al0.25 at. %) containing long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phases. The coatings' structure was analyzed using a combination of SEM/FIB/TEM techniques, while XRD determined the phase composition. The mechanical parameters investigated included hardness, indentation modulus, and scratch behavior. The corrosion resistance of the coatings with respect to the bare substrate was evaluated in chloride-containing solutions. The wettability and early biological assessment of the coatings were also examined. The phase evolution strongly influenced the hardness and indentation modulus. The Ta-xN coatings made at x = 2 sccm nitrogen corresponding to HCP-Ta2N exhibited the highest hardness and indentation modulus. An increase in nitrogen flow rates resulted in the formation of FCC structure with slightly reduced hardness and indentation modulus. In addition, Ta-xN coatings (x ≥ 4sccm) showed superior corrosion resistance compared to BCC structured α-Ta, enhancing the corrosion performance of the Mg-LPSO bulk substrate. Finally, at the early incubation stage (24 h), L929 fibroblasts exhibited better cell attachment to the Ta-6N coating than to the bare Mg-LPSO substrate.

Low-Mineral Water Diminishes the Bone Benefits of Boron.

This study looked at how desalinated seawater, which has low minerals and high boron, could affect bone health. Prior research suggests that low mineral water may harm bone health and boron could be beneficial, but the overall impact on bone health is still unclear. Eighty-nine-week-old male Balb/C mice were allocated into eight groups and administered either tap water or purified water with varying boron concentrations (0, 5, 40, and 200 mg/L). They were kept in an environment mimicking tropical conditions (35-40 °C, 70-80% humidity) and underwent daily treadmill exercise for 13 weeks. At the 14th week, serum, femora, and lumbar vertebrae were collected for mineral metabolism, bone biomarker, microstructure, and biomechanics evaluation. Boron exposure improved bone formation, microstructure, and biomechanics initially but the benefits weakened with higher levels of exposure (p < 0.05). Co-exposure to purified water elevated serum boron but weakened the promotion of boron on bone minerals and the bone benefits of boron compared to tap water (p < 0.05). Thus, when studying the health effects of boron in desalinated seawater, it is crucial to look at various health effects beyond bone health. Furthermore, it is important to consider the mineral composition of drinking water when using boron for bone health benefits.

A NOVEL DOUBLE-SIDE LASER WELDED THICK PLATE: MICROSTRUCTURE AND NUMERICAL PREDICTION OF TENSILE TEST

The study aims to provide firsthand knowledge on finite element simulation (FES) of double-side laser welded (LW) stainless steel 304 (SS-304) thick plates used for automobile application. Double-side welding technique is an idea of achieving complete penetration with minimal heat input. The microstructural evaluation revealed the presence of dendritic growth that results in the enhancement of tensile strength (TS) for the welded sample. There is a slight increase in the delta ferrite content in weldment. The change in microstructure is due to thermal history during solidification. The TS of base metal (BM) was [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]MPa whereas the welded sample exhibited strength of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]MPa. FES was successfully employed to simulate TS with error percentage less than 1.

Improved mechanical and corrosion properties through high-pressure phase transition in a biodegradable Zn-1.5Mn alloy

Zn-Mn alloys are considered promising biodegradable metals for orthopedic applications due to their large elongation and favorable osteogenicity. However, the corrosion rate of Zn-Mn alloys could be improved to meet the degradation requirement for orthopedic implants. In this study, a Zn-1.5Mn alloy was prepared via high-pressure solid-solution (HPSS) treatment at 5 GPa and 380 °C for 1 h to cast ingots. Microstructural evaluation revealed the HPSS treatment caused a phase transition from a ζ-MnZn13 phase to an ε-MnZn3 phase. The electrode potential difference between the ε-MnZn3 and the α-Zn was significantly larger than between the ζ-MnZn13 and the α-Zn, leading to an accelerated corrosion rate of the HPSS-treated alloy. It showed an electrochemical corrosion rate of 0.343 mm/y and an immersion degradation rate of 0.028 mm/y, while the as-cast (AC) Zn-1.5Mn displayed an electrochemical corrosion rate of 0.216 mm/y and an immersion degradation rate of 0.026 mm/y. Further, the HPSS-treated Zn-1.5Mn exhibited a compressive yield strength of 202 MPa and a microhardness of 83.48 HV. In addition, the HPSS-treated Zn-1.5Mn exhibited a cell viability toward human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) comparable to its AC and atmospheric pressure solid-solution-treated (APSS-treated) counterparts toward HUVEC, along with improved antibacterial activity.

Evaluation of anode support microstructure in solid oxide fuel cells using virtual 3D reconstruction: A simulation study

In this study, the impact of microstructural properties of the anode support layer (ASL) composed of catalyst, electrolyte and pore phases on the performance of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is investigated. Synthetic SOFC anode microstructures, comprising two layers including the anode functional layer (AFL), where electrochemical reactions take place, are generated using an open-source software. Different configurations of the anode support layer with various particle sizes and volume fractions of the catalyst and electrolyte phases for different porosities are combined with a consistent AFL to isolate the effect of ASL microstructural parameters. The triple phase boundary (TPB) density, chosen as a useful metric monitoring the anode performance, is then quantitively determined for each anode layer and entire anode in all reconstructed microstructures. The results demonstrate that the microstructure of ASL significantly influences the anode and thus cell performance by impacting reactant gas supply and current collection, emphasizing the necessity for meticulous design. Specifically, ASL microstructures with low volume fractions of Ni and the pore phase, and/or substantial differences between the volume fractions of the phases, are observed to result in discontinuous phase networks, which deactivate TPBs in AFL.

Exploring the potential of sugarcane bagasse ash as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material: Experimental investigation and statistical analysis

Exploring nonconventional cementitious materials is vital for enhancing material performance, reducing construction industry's environmental footprint, and promoting sustainable resource management. This study investigated the potential of minimally processed sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) as a supplementary cementitious material in mortar mixes, examining its effects on compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, density, water absorption, and microstructure. Notably, the SCBA used in this study was processed with minimal energy input, involving only sun drying, coarse sieving through a 150-μm mesh, and gentle oven drying to remove residual moisture. In this view, seven cementitious mixes were prepared, comprising a control mix and six mixes with SCBA replacement levels ranging from 5 % to 30 % by weight of binder (Cement + SCBA). Initially, the 7-day compressive strength decreased with increasing SCBA replacement, whereas 28-day strength increased for mixes containing 5–15 wt% SCBA, with a maximum 12.67 % increase at 5 wt% replacement, and all mixes up to 15 wt% SCBA met ASTM C270 specifications. Up to 5 wt% SCBA substitution enhanced both ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and density, but further additions led to decreased UPV and density values due to the formation of a porous microstructure resulting from increased SCBA content. However, despite this decrease, mortars containing up to 15 wt% SCBA achieved UPV values surpassing the literature-defined thresholds for good (3500 m/s) and excellent (3800 m/s) quality cement mortar at 28 days, indicating yet a well-packed microstructure. The incorporation of upto 15 wt% SCBA resulted in reduced water absorption at 28 days, meeting the requirements of ASTM C62. A quadratic regression model was employed to investigate the relationship between SCBA content and mortar properties, including compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, density, and water absorption. The analysis revealed a statistically significant fit (p < 0.05) with a high coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.90), indicating a strong relationship between SCBA content and mortar properties. Microstructural evaluation confirmed beneficial effects of SCBA incorporation on mortar morphology, within moderate dosage ranges (up to 15–20 wt% SCBA). The study highlights the potential of using energy-efficient SCBA as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material to improve mortar mix performance and contribute to the development of environmentally friendly cementitious materials.

Evaluation of Surface Microstructure and Compressive Strength of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Biodentine in the Existence and Absence of Oral Tissue Fluids.

Calcium silicate cement like mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine are known for their biocompatibility and are effectively used as retrograde filling materials. During their placement, the materials interact with oral tissue fluids like saliva and blood, so the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of distilled water, saline, and blood on the surface microstructure and compressive strength of MTA and Biodentine. In this experimental study, a total of 84 custom-made cylindrical molds were randomly allocated into two main cement groups (n = 42) MTA and Biodentine. Each group was further subdivided into three subgroups (n = 14) as per the testing conditions, that is, samples exposed to distilled water, saline, and fresh blood. Around 10 samples from each subgroup were tested for compressive strength using a universal testing machine (UTM), and the remaining four samples were used to examine the surface characteristics of MTA and Biodentine using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc tests were employed to calculate the mean compressive strength and standard deviation values. There was a significant difference in the compressive strength between MTA and Biodentine, especially in the presence of blood. During the SEM analysis, it was found that samples contaminated with blood or saline were devoid of acicular crystals in both groups. MTA group showed a more porous matrix with few hexagonal crystals than Biodentine. Biodentine may be advantageous as a root-end filling or root repair material in the presence of blood. Bhullar KK, Gupta V, Sapra M, et al. Evaluation of Surface Microstructure and Compressive Strength of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Biodentine in the Existence and Absence of Oral Tissue Fluids. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(S-1):S1-S5.

Annealing treatment on the microstructure evaluation and tensile properties of TC4 alloy fabricated by laser oscillation melting deposition

Annealing treatment on the microstructure evaluation and tensile properties of TC4 alloy fabricated by laser oscillation melting deposition

Preparation and characterization of ZnO modified solid state sintered 45S5 bioactive ceramics

In this research, the traditional 45S5 bioactive glass powder was modified using ZnO (<20 μm) by powder metallurgy route. Five different bioactive ceramics compositions (45BC, 45BC1, 45BC3, 45BC5 and 45BC7) were formulated containing varied amounts of ZnO in the step of 1, 3, 5 and 7 wt % respectively. Each body was thoroughly mixed in a porcelain-lined ball mill to ensure proper homogenization followed by an addition of prepared 2 % PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol) and then again thoroughly mixed. The batch material was uniaxially pressed at 70 MPa using a cylindrical mould of 40 × 20 mm. A total of 20 samples from each body composition were produced and allowed to dry in an ambient temperature followed by sintering at 1000 °C for 2h at the rate of 5 °C/min. The samples were then allowed to anneal within the furnace to room temperature. Selected samples were later immersed inside simulated body fluid. Physical, mechanical, microstructure and phase evaluation were conducted to examine the developed bioactive ceramics. The results showed that the bulk density increased from 1.6 to 2.64 g/cm3 while porosity decrease from 95 % to 58 % across the series, with increasing ZnO addition. Sample 45BC7 showed maximum hardness and compressive strength of 7.98 GPa and 83.54 MPa respectively. The carbonate-hydroxyapatite/hydroxyapatite (CHA/HA) deposits were found to also increased with ZnO addition showing good bioactivity, which affirms that the developed bioactive ceramics can bond well with living tissues, thus its suitability for bone regeneration.

Sintering parameter investigation for bimetallic stainless steel 316L/inconel 718 composite printed by dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling

PurposeFused deposition modeling (FDM) nowadays offers promising future applications for fabricating not only thermoplastic-based polymers but also composite PLA/Metal alloy materials, this capability bridges the need for metallic components in complex manufacturing processes. The research is to explore the manufacturability of multi-metal parts by printing green bodies of PLA/multi-metal objects, carrying these objects to the debinding process and varying the sintering parameters.Design/methodology/approachThree different sample types of SS316L part, Inconel 718 part and bimetallic composite of SS316L/IN718 were effectively printed. After the debinding process, the printed parts (green bodies), were isothermally sintered in non-vacuum chamber to investigate the fusion behavior at four different temperatures in the range of 1270 °C−1530 °C for 12 h and slowly cooled in the furnace. All samples was assessed including geometrical assessment to measure the shrinkage, characterization (XRD) to identify the crystallinity of the compound and microstructural evolution (Optical microscopy and SEM) to explore the porosity and morphology on the surface. The hardness of each sample types was measured and compared. The sintering parameter was optimized according to the microstructural evaluation on the interface of SS316L/IN718 composite.FindingsThe investigation indicated that the de-binding of all the samples was effectively succeeded through less weight until 16% when the PLA of green bodies was successfully evaporated. The morphology result shows evidence of an effective sintering process to have the grain boundaries in all samples, while multi-metal parts clearly displayed the interface. Furthermore, the result of XRD shows the tendency of lower crystallinity in SS316L parts, whilst IN718 has a high crystallinity. The optimal sintering temperature for SS316L/IN718 parts is 1500 °C. The hardness test concludes that the higher sintering temperature gives a higher hardness result.Originality/valueThis study highlights the successful sintering of a bimetallic stainless steel 316 L/Inconel 718 composite, fabricated via dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling, in a non-vacuum environment at 1500 °C. The resulting material displayed maximum hardness values of 872 HV for SS316L and 755.5 HV for IN718, with both materials exhibiting excellent fusion without any cracks.

A generative machine learning model for the 3D reconstruction of material microstructure and performance evaluation

The 3D reconstruction is generally defined as the process of capturing the shape and appearance of real objects. By reconstructing 3D digital model from a series of 2D slices, it brings considerable convenience to visualize internal structure and decipher structure-property relation of a material. Nowadays, the 3D reconstruction is becoming a cutting-edge technique in depicting the internal structure and evaluating the physical performance of targeted materials. Recent years, generative machine learning methods, such as generative adversarial networks (GAN), have achieved tremendous success in AI-generated physical content (AIGPC). However, lots of technical challenges remain, including oversimplified models, oversized dataset requirement and inefficient convergence. These difficulties are caused by the insufficient ability to capture detailed features and the inadequacy of the generated model quality. To this end, a novel generative model is developed, which combines the multiscale features of U-net and the synthesis ability of GANs. With the help of the multiscale channel aggregation module, the hierarchical feature aggregation module and the convolutional block attention module, our model is developed to capture the features of the material microstructure better. The loss function is refined by combining the image regularization loss with the Wasserstein distance loss. In addition, the anisotropy index is adopted to measure anisotropic degree of selected samples quantitively. The results demonstrate that the 3D structures generated by the proposed model retain high fidelity with ground truth samples. With remarkable performance, the proposed model not only overtakes traditional GAN, but will shed a brilliant light on AIGPC and physical 3D reconstruction.

Experimental investigation on solidification cracking & intergranular corrosion of AISI 321 & AISI 316 L dissimilar weld on pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding (PCGTAW)

Dissimilar metal combinations are frequently employed in the power generation and nuclear industries. Where stainless steel piping systems are connected to pressure vessels made of low-alloy steel, the subsystems of liquid rocket engines also have different, dissimilar material combinations. Dissimilar welding plays a vital role in ensuring the integrity, performance, and reliability of components and structures operating in cryogenic environments, in this study, plates of AISI 316L and AISI 321, each 5 mm thick, were successfully joined using the pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding (PCGTAW) technique with optimized process parameters. These weld joints are mostly present in rocket engines subjected to a cryogenic environment. Due to the low temperature environment, the metallurgical properties of these joints change, which affects their mechanical properties. As it is a structural part, PCGTAW welding is most common method for joining this kind of material.In this work, Microstructural analysis of the weldment revealed a combination of vermicular, lacy, and acicular ferrite morphologies in the fusion zone at the root, mid, and crown locations.Furthermore, no solidification cracking was detected in the weldments based on the optical micrograph and SEM results. Intergranular corrosion (IGC) testing indicated the absence of a ditch structure, suggesting that the heat-affected zone (HAZ) on both sides of the weld joint was not being susceptible to sensitization. However, the HAZ of the AISI 316L side exhibited coarser grains compared to AISI 321. Analysis of tensile properties revealed a significant influence of the testing environment on the tensile strength of the dissimilar welded joints. At room temperature, the average ultimate tensile strength (UTS) was measured as 621 MPa. Remarkably, at cryogenic conditions, the average tensile properties significantly increased to 1319 MPa.Microhardness analysis showed the highest hardness associated with the AISI 321 side. The fusion zone exhibited a large deviation in the hardness profile (205 ± 10 HV), with the highest average hardness observed in the middle part of the weld. However, the hot cracking behavior of the weld was investigated by using a suutula diagram at various locations of the weld. The investigation revealed that the Creq/Nieq ratio exceeded the critical threshold value, effectively diminishing the propensity for hot cracking in the fusion zone. Overall, these findings underscore the effectiveness of the PCGTAW technique in joining dissimilar materials, as well as the importance of microstructural and mechanical property evaluations, especially under extreme operating conditions such as cryogenic temperatures.Paraphrase.

Effects of Penetrating Microwave Hot-Air Rolling Blanching Pretreatment for the Drying of Hawthorn Slices: Evaluation of Enzyme Activity, Drying Characteristics, Moisture Migration, Microstructure, and Quality Attributes

Effects of Penetrating Microwave Hot-Air Rolling Blanching Pretreatment for the Drying of Hawthorn Slices: Evaluation of Enzyme Activity, Drying Characteristics, Moisture Migration, Microstructure, and Quality Attributes

Sustainable hybrid snack product: impact of dual fortification with Gracillaria seaweed and pressure‐cooked milkfish broth by‐products on nutritive, physical, texture, and sensory properties

SummaryThe liquid by‐products obtained from the fisheries industry are usually discarded after primary processing. In this study, by‐products of pressure‐cooked milkfish broth were utilised and combined with Gracilaria sp. to create sustainable seaweed stick snacks. By utilising the by‐products of liquid waste from pressurised milkfish processing, combined with the addition of Gracilaria seaweed in snack development, it is expected to obtain a snack products with increased protein and fibre level. This endeavour contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting good health and well‐being, as well as responsible consumption and production. Comprehensive analyses were performed, covering proximate composition, dietary fibre, functional group, thermal properties, colour, microstructure, pore size, viscosity, texture, and sensory evaluation through hedonic testing and check‐all‐that‐apply sensory (CATA) profiling. The FTIR results showed that the inclusion of seaweed and fish broth was recognised and presented in the specific characteristic bands, especially the stretching band in the polysaccharide fingerprint region, and with protein vibration bands blending with the inclusion of broth. The seaweed had an impact on the dough viscosity and product's texture, increasing the firmness, and the amino acids in the broth enhanced the taste of the resulting snack, positively influencing the panellists' preferences. The smoothness, moistness, roughness, and overall texture attributes of the snack were altered by the combination of seaweed and broth additions. According to the sensory, physical properties, and nutrient results, the optimal snack formulations included the addition of 36% seaweed and 4% broth (S36B4). The prominent sensory attributes of the product were also described in the CATA sensory evaluation. Additionally, the inclusion of Gracilaria sp. increased the dietary fibre content, while milkfish broth contributed to higher levels of amino acids, improving the nutritional profile of the snacks. Therefore, this study promoting a new source of protein could be synergistically combined with marine plant‐based fibre to produce hybrid nutrient‐dense snack products, addressing the growing demand for sustainable food trends.

Evaluation of microstructure and prediction of hardness of Al–Cu based composites by using artificial neural network and linear regression through machine learning technique

Evaluation of microstructure and prediction of hardness of Al–Cu based composites by using artificial neural network and linear regression through machine learning technique

Microstructural Evaluation of a Dissimilar Metal Interface of Ni-Co-Based Superalloys Fabricated Using Wire Arc-Directed Energy Deposition Additive Manufacturing

Microstructural Evaluation of a Dissimilar Metal Interface of Ni-Co-Based Superalloys Fabricated Using Wire Arc-Directed Energy Deposition Additive Manufacturing

Evaluation of microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured Ti–5V–5Mo-5 Al-3 Cr alloy

Ti–5V–5Mo–5Al–3Cr (Ti-5553) is a near-beta titanium alloy commonly used in aerospace applications. It is currently being explored for additive manufacturing (AM), but the fatigue behavior of this AM alloy needs to be well-understood for adoption. This paper explores the tensile and high-cycle fatigue behavior of laser powder bed (LPBF) manufactured Ti-5553 that has been post-print heat treated with a beta anneal and age (BAA), with a focus on the microstructural evolution and effects of surface roughness and print defects. Fatigue lives of as-LPBF and BAA material are nearly identical and both are far below fatigue lives of conventionally manufactured Ti-5553. As-built samples contain columnar β grains with a [001] texture in the build direction with a negligible fraction of α phase confirmed by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The BAA material contains HCP alpha-phase precipitates: grain boundary α, primary α, and secondary Widmanstätten α. Fatigue samples were printed in the vertical direction and tested with an as-printed and machined surface. Both the as-LPBF and BAA samples exhibit similar fatigue strengths despite their vastly different microstructures. Machined surfaces led to an increase in tensile strength, ductility, and fatigue strength. This work emphasizes the importance of heat treatment and minimization of flaws inherent to AM processing of near-beta Ti-5553.

Mechanical property evaluation of 3D multi-phase cement paste microstructures reconstructed using generative adversarial networks

This study proposes an artificial intelligence based framework for reconstructing the 3D multi-phase cement paste microstructure to evaluate its mechanical properties using simulation. The reconstruction of cement paste microstructures is performed using modified generative adversarial networks (GANs) based on microstructural images from micro-CT. For computational efficiency, 2D microstructures are first reconstructed and then extended to 3D microstructures. The reconstructed microstructures exhibit the same microstructural features as the original microstructures when characterized by probability functions. Mechanical properties such as stiffness and tensile strength are evaluated for the original and reconstructed specimens using a phase-field fracture model, and similar behaviors are observed. The results confirm that the reconstructed virtual microstructures can be used to supplement the real microstructures in evaluating the mechanical properties of 3D multi-phase cement paste. This approach thus provides a critical element of a data-driven approach to correlating its microstructure and properties.