Utilizing Modern FIB/SEM Technology and EDS for 3D Imaging of Hydrated Alite and its Pore Space
(2021)
The exploration of cementitious materials using scanning electron microscopes (SEM) is mainly done using fractured or polished surfaces. This leads to high-resolution 2D-images that can be combined using EDX and EBSD to unveil details of the microstructure and composition of materials. Nevertheless, this does not provide a quantitative insight into the three-dimensional fine structure of for example C-S-H phases.
The focused ion beam (FIB) technology can cut a block of material in thin layers of less than 10 nm. This gives us a volume of 1000 μm³ with a voxel resolution of down to 4 x 4 x 10 nm³. The results can be combined with simultaneously acquired EDX data to improve image segmentation. Results of the investigation demonstrate that it is possible to obtain close-to-native 3D-visualisation of the spatial distribution of unreacted C3S, C-S-H and CH. Additionally, an optimized preparation method allows us to quantify the fine structure of C-S-H phases (length, aspect ratio, …) and the pore space.