Orientation of calcium hydroxide at the portland cement paste-aggregate interface in mortars in the presence of silica fume: A contribution

摘要: Abstract A scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzing facility has been used to study the orientation of calcium hydroxide, CH at interface between cement paste and inert sand aggregates. The investigation was carried out on fractured surfaces portland mortars without silica fume using secondary imaging in SEM. Evidence from SEM examination shows that tends affect pattern crystallization degree crystals aggregate surface during first few days hydration. By 28 hydration, however, hydroxide had disappeared fume-blended mortars. interference by microsilica is believed be due tendency nucleate grow fine particles when latter occur or surface.