Speaker
Dr
Pavel Trtik
(EMPA)
Description
X-ray ptychographic nanotomography -as recently developed at the cSAXS beamline- allows for non-destructive, three-dimensional mapping of the electron density. Its proven quantitativeness combined with the sub-micrometre resolution makes it a suitable tool for the assessment of densities of the individual phases in complex materials, such as hardened cement pastes.
Here we present results of a pilot experiment performed on a cylindrical sample of epoxy-impregnated hardened cement paste of about 30 µm in diameter. Two-dimensional cross-sections of the three-dimensional electron density map show a microstructure that bears distinct similarity to that observed by the high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. Domains of various residues of clinker grains, calcium hydroxide, calcium silicate hydrates, epoxy-resin-impregnated porosity and unimpregnated porosity are revealed and are manifested as distinguishable peaks in the histogram of the three-dimensional electron density map. On assumptions of (a) the chemical composition, (b) the purity of the analyzed regions, the mass densities of the above mentioned individual material phases are estimated.
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Poster
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Imaging
Primary author
Dr
Pavel Trtik
(EMPA)
Co-authors
Dr
Ana Diaz
(PSI)
Dr
Andreas Menzel
(PSI)
Dr
Manuel Guizar-Sicairos
(PSI)
Dr
Oliver Bunk
(PSI)
