Chemically bonded phases pore size distribution

Many of the properties of the cement paste are determined by its chemical nature and micro structure. Microstructure constitutes the nature of the solid body and that of the non-solid portion, viz., porous structure. Microstructural features depend on many factors, such as the physical and chemical nature of the cement, type and the amoimt of admixture added to it, temperature and period of hydration, and the initial w/c ratio. The solid phase study includes examination of the morphology (shape and size), bonding ofthe surfaces, surface area, and density. Porosity, pore shape, and pore size distribution analysis is necessary for investigating the non-solid phase. Many of the properties are interdependent, and no one property can adequately explain the physico-mechanical characteristics of cement paste. 

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