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Author
Stutzman, P. E.
Title
Quantitative Phase Abundance Analysis of Three Cement Clinker Reference Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Coporate
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
Book or Conf
National Institute of Standards and Technology and American Ceramic Society. Advances in Cementitious Materials. Ceramic Transactions. Volume 16. July 22-26, 1990, Gaithersburg, MD, Mindess, S., Editors, 199-210 p., 1991
Keywords
cements | microscopy | portland cement
Abstract
Three portland cement clinker reference materials are available from the Standard Reference Materials Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. They are the first clinker reference materials for phase abundance analyses and were selected as representative of North American clinker production with respect to the range of phase abundance, grain size, and distribution. They are intended for use in the development and testing of methods for quantitative phase abundance analyses of portland cement clinker. Portland cement clinker microstructures were characterized by backscattered electron imaging in the scanning electron microscope. Clinker phases were identified on the basis of their brightness, grain morphology, occurrence within the clinker, and composition. Quantitative phase abundance analyses by point counting, and by image analysis of backscattered electron images and, for periclase, of X-ray maps, generally agreed with the reference material values. Low contrast between belite and aluminate presented some problems for image analysis. X-ray maps suitable for image processing require much longer collection times than backscattered electron images but worked well when elements unique to a phase (e.g., Mg for periclase) were mapped. With its capability to clearly image polished clinker sections at a wide range of magnifications, the scanning electron microscopy X-ray analysis and with image analysis capabilities is a powerful tool for quantitative cement clinker microscopy.