- Author
- Struble, L. | Byrd, W. E.
- Title
- Epoxy Impregnation of Hardened Cement Pastes for Characterization of Microstructure. Interim Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Air Force Systems Command, Bolling AFB, DC
- Report
-
NBSIR 87-3504
November 1986 - Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- cements; hardening (materials); polishing; impregnating; epoxy resins; ethanols; tests; microstructure; crack propagation; drying; methodology; electron microscopy
- Abstract
- Methods were explored for drying of hardened cement paste prior to impregnation with epoxy, in order to polish for microscopic examination. All were shown to cause microcracking of the paste. An alternative method involves replacing pore water with ethanol, then replacing ethanol with epoxy. The method appears to minimize the occurrence of microcracks associated with drying.