Characterization of pore structure in cement-based materials using pressurization-depressurization cycling mercury intrusion porosimetry (PDC-MIP)

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Cement and Concrete Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.02.011· OSTI ID:21483640

Zhou Jian, E-mail: Jian.Zhou@tudelft.n ^[1]; Ye Guang, E-mail: g.ye@tudelft.n ^[1]; Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 904 B-9052, Ghent ^[2]; Breugel, Klaas van, E-mail: k.vanbreugel@tudelft.n ^[1]

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1. Microlab, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft (Netherlands)
2. (Zwijnaarde) (Belgium)

Numerous mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) studies have been carried out to investigate the pore structure in cement-based materials. However, the standard MIP often results in an underestimation of large pores and an overestimation of small pores because of its intrinsic limitation. In this paper, an innovative MIP method is developed in order to provide a more accurate estimation of pore size distribution. The new MIP measurements are conducted following a unique mercury intrusion procedure, in which the applied pressure is increased from the minimum to the maximum by repeating pressurization-depressurization cycles instead of a continuous pressurization followed by a continuous depressurization. Accordingly, this method is called pressurization-depressurization cycling MIP (PDC-MIP). By following the PDC-MIP testing sequence, the volumes of the throat pores and the corresponding ink-bottle pores can be determined at every pore size. These values are used to calculate pore size distribution by using the newly developed analysis method. This paper presents an application of PDC-MIP on the investigation of the pore size distribution in cement-based materials. The experimental results of PDC-MIP are compared with those measured by standard MIP. The PDC-MIP is further validated with the other experimental methods and numerical tool, including nitrogen sorption, backscanning electron (BSE) image analysis, Wood's metal intrusion porosimetry (WMIP) and the numerical simulation by the cement hydration model HYMOSTRUC3D.

• OSTI ID: 21483640
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 40, Issue 7; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.02.011; PII: S0008-8846(10)00048-7; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0008-8846
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CEMENTS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEPRESSURIZATION
DISTRIBUTION
HYDRATION
IMAGE PROCESSING
MERCURY
PORE STRUCTURE
PRESSURIZATION
SORPTION
STANDARDS
TESTING
WOOD METAL
ALLOY-BI50PB25CD12SN12
ALLOYS
BISMUTH ALLOYS
BISMUTH BASE ALLOYS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CADMIUM ALLOYS
ELEMENTS
LEAD ALLOYS
MATERIALS
METALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
PROCESSING
SIMULATION
SOLVATION
TIN ALLOYS