Nondestructive microstructure analysis of the carbonation evolution process in hardened binder paste containing blast-furnace slag by X-ray CT

Abstract

We used micro-XCT(X-ray computed tomography) to in-situ investigate the microstructure evolution of hardened binder paste containing different contents (0%, 30%, 50% and 70%) of blast-furnace slag at different carbonation time (0, 3, 7 and 14 days), respectively. The carbonation front shape, the degrees of carbonation and cracks spatial distribution were studied for hardened binder paste containing BFS. In addition, the porosity and pore volume distribution of macro-pore were measured at different carbonation ages. The results reveal that the degree of carbonation at different times can be measured by the volume fraction of the uncarbonated and carbonated parts.

Keywords

XCT / hardened binder paste / blast furnace slag / carbonation / gray values / pore structure

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