Multiscale Characterization to Examine the Effects of Aggregate Properties on Aggregate-Paste Interphase in Cement Concrete Mixtures
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 4
Abstract
This study aims to test the effects of aggregate properties on the features of aggregate-paste interphase in portland cement concrete mixtures. The microstructural, chemical, and nanomechanical properties of the interphase region, formed because of the interaction of two commonly used chemically-distinctive aggregates (i.e., limestone as a calcite aggregate and quartzite as a siliceous aggregate) with ordinary portland cement paste, were examined through multiscale measurements. More specifically, the microstructural, chemical, and nanomechanical properties at the interphase zone were characterized using laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and nanoindentation. Furthermore, a three-point bending test was used to evaluate the bond between the aggregate and paste on single edge notched beam specimen where a thin aggregate sheet was inserted. A coupled microstructural, mechanical, and chemical examination can provide integrated characterization of an interphase region formed by different aggregate properties. It was found that the thickness of interfacial debonding between aggregate and paste is more dominantly influenced by moisture absorption capacity, while the surface chemistry of the aggregates did not significantly affect the characteristics of the interphase. It was also observed that when there is a good bonding between aggregate and paste, ample calcium silicate hydrate (C─ S─ H) gel is formed close to the aggregate surface, which is demonstrated by similar Ca/Si ratios between the interphase region and adjacent paste region. On the other hand, poor interphase and resulting interfacial debonding was associated with more involvement of CH crystals at the interphase region, which was observed by greater Ca/Si ratios.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the National Science Foundation (Grant No. CMMI-1635055) for financial support of this research.
References
Akçaoğlu, T., M. Tokyay, and T. Çelik. 2005. “Assessing the ITZ microcracking via scanning electron microscope and its effect on the failure behavior of concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res. 35 (2): 358–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.05.042.
Asbridge, A., C. Page, and M. Page. 2002. “Effects of metakaolin, water/binder ratio and interfacial transition zones on the microhardness of cement mortars.” Cem. Concr. Res. 32 (9): 1365–1369. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(02)00798-6.
ASTM 2001. Standard test method for density, relative density (specific gravity), and absorption of coarse aggregate. ASTM C127. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
Bentz, D. P. 2000. “Influence of silica fume on diffusivity in cement-based materials: II. Multi-scale modeling of concrete diffusivity.” Cem. Concr. Res. 30 (7): 1121–1129. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(00)00263-5.
Bentz, D. P., E. J. Garboczi, and E. Schlangen. 1995. “Computer simulation of interfacial zone microstructure and its effect on the properties of cement-based composites.” In Vol. 6 of Materials Science of Concrete. Westerville, OH: American Ceramic Society.
Caliskan, S., and B. L. Karihaloo. 2004. “Effect of surface roughness, type and size of model aggregates on the bond strength of aggregate/mortar interface.” Interface Sci. 12 (4): 361–374. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:INTS.0000042334.43266.62.
Caliskan, S., B. L. Karihaloo, and B. Barr. 2002. “Study of rock–mortar interfaces. Part I: Surface roughness of rock aggregates and microstructural characteristics of interface.” Mag. Concr. Res. 54 (6): 449–461. https://doi.org/10.1680/macr.2002.54.6.449.
Diamond, S., and J. Huang. 2001. “The ITZ in concrete—A different view based on image analysis and SEM observations.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 23 (2): 179–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-9465(00)00065-2.
Duan, P., Z. Shui, W. Chen, and C. Shen. 2013. “Effects of metakaolin, silica fume and slag on pore structure, interfacial transition zone and compressive strength of concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 44 (Jul): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.02.075.
Elsharief, A., M. D. Cohen, and J. Olek. 2003. “Influence of aggregate size, water cement ratio and age on the microstructure of the interfacial transition zone.” Cem. Concr. Res. 33 (11): 1837–1849. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(03)00205-9.
Erdem, S., A. R. Dawson, and N. H. Thom. 2012. “Influence of the micro- and nanoscale local mechanical properties of the interfacial transition zone on impact behavior of concrete made with different aggregates.” Cem. Concr. Res. 42 (2): 447–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.11.015.
Haghshenas, H. F., Y.-R. Kim, M. D. Morton, T. Smith, M. Khedmati, and D. F. Haghshenas. 2018. “Effect of softening additives on the moisture susceptibility of recycled bituminous materials using chemical-mechanical-imaging methods.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 30 (9): 04018207. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002405.
Hay, J. C., A. Bolshakov, and G. Pharr. 1999. “A critical examination of the fundamental relations used in the analysis of nanoindentation data.” J. Mater. Res. 14 (6): 2296–2305. https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1999.0306.
Hong, L., X. Gu, and F. Lin. 2014. “Influence of aggregate surface roughness on mechanical properties of interface and concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 65 (Aug): 338–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.131.
Jiang, L. 1999. “The interfacial zone and bond strength between aggregates and cement pastes incorporating high volumes of fly ash.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 21 (4): 313–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-9465(99)00013-X.
Khedmati, M., H. Alanazi, Y.-R. Kim, G. Nsengiyumva, and S. Moussavi. 2018a. “Effects of Na2O/SiO2 molar ratio on properties of aggregate-paste interphase in fly ash-based geopolymer mixtures through multiscale measurements.” Constr. Build. Mater. 191 (Dec): 564–574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.10.024.
Khedmati, M., Y.-R. Kim, and J. A. Turner. 2019. “Investigation of the interphase between recycled aggregates and cementitious binding materials using integrated microstructural-nanomechanical-chemical characterization.” Composites Part B 158 (Feb): 218–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.09.041.
Khedmati, M., Y.-R. Kim, J. A. Turner, H. Alanazi, and C. Nguyen. 2018b. “An integrated microstructural-nanomechanical-chemical approach to examine material-specific characteristics of cementitious interphase regions.” Mater. Charact. 138 (Apr): 154–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2018.01.045.
Kuroda, M., T. Watanabe, and N. Terashi. 2000. “Increase of bond strength at interfacial transition zone by the use of fly ash.” Cem. Concr. Res. 30 (2): 253–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(99)00241-0.
Maso, J. 2004. Interfacial Transition Zone in Concrete. New York: CRC Press.
Maso, J. 2014. Interfacial Transition Zone in Concrete. New York: CRC Press.
Mehta, P., and P. Monteiro. 1987. “Effect of aggregate, cement, and mineral admixtures on the microstructure of the transition zone.” In Vol. 114 of MRS Online Proc. Library Archive. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Mondal, P. 2008. Nanomechanical properties of cementitious materials. Evanston, IL: Northwestern Univ.
Ollivier, J., J. Maso, and B. Bourdette. 1995. “Interfacial transition zone in concrete.” Adv. Cem. Based Mater. 2 (1): 30–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/1065-7355(95)90037-3.
Paulon, V., D. Dal Molin, and P. Monteiro. 2004. “Statistical analysis of the effect of mineral admixtures on the strength of the interfacial transition zone.” Interface Sci. 12 (4): 399–410. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:INTS.0000042338.54460.02.
Prokopski, G., and J. Halbiniak. 2000. “Interfacial transition zone in cementitious materials.” Cem. Concr. Res. 30 (4): 579–583. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(00)00210-6.
Rao, G. A., and B. R. Prasad. 2002. “Influence of the roughness of aggregate surface on the interface bond strength.” Cem. Concr. Res. 32 (2): 253–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(01)00668-8.
Rao, G. A., and B. R. Prasad. 2004. “Influence of type of aggregate and surface roughness on the interface fracture properties.” Mater. Struct. 37 (5): 328–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02481679.
Scrivener, K. L., A. K. Crumbie, and P. Laugesen. 2004. “The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between cement paste and aggregate in concrete.” Interface Sci. 12 (4): 411–421. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:INTS.0000042339.92990.4c.
Scrivener, K. L., and P. L. Pratt. 1996. “Characterization of interfacial microstructure.” In Vol. 2 of Interfacial Transition Zone Concrete, 3–18. London: E & FN Spon.
Simeonov, P., and S. Ahmad. 1995. “Effect of transition zone on the elastic behavior of cement-based composites.” Cem. Concr. Res. 25 (1): 165–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-8846(94)00124-H.
Struble, L., J. Skalny, and S. Mindess. 1980. “A review of the cement-aggregate bond.” Cem. Concr. Res. 10 (2): 277–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-8846(80)90084-8.
Tasong, W., J. Cripps, and C. Lynsdale. 1998a. “Aggregate-cement chemical interactions.” Cem. Concr. Res. 28 (7): 1037–1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(98)00067-2.
Tasong, W., C. Lynsdale, and J. Cripps. 1998b. “Aggregate-cement paste interface. II: Influence of aggregate physical properties.” Cem. Concr. Res. 28 (10): 1453–1465. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(98)00126-4.
Taylor, H. F. 1997. Cement Chemistry. London: Thomas Telford.
Xu, J., B. Wang, and J. Zuo. 2017. “Modification effects of nanosilica on the interfacial transition zone in concrete: A multiscale approach.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 81: 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2017.04.003.
Zheng, J., C. Li, and X. Zhou. 2005. “Thickness of interfacial transition zone and cement content profiles around aggregates.” Mag. Concr. Res. 57 (7): 397–406. https://doi.org/10.1680/macr.2005.57.7.397.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 4 • April 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 13, 2019
Accepted: Sep 5, 2019
Published online: Feb 6, 2020
Published in print: Apr 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jul 6, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.