Transmission Electron Microscopy and Microanalytical Studies of Ion‐Beam‐Thinned Sections of Tricalcium Silicate Paste

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Abstract
Mature tricalcium silicate cement pastes were examined in ion‐beam‐thinned sections. The microstructure consisted of very homogeneous amorphous hydrate gel surrounding residual unhydrated cores of tricalcium silicate, these regions being linked by a fibrillar outer hydration product. Carbonation had produced microcrystals of calcite within the outer product only. X‐ray microanalysis gave Ca: Si ratios for the hydrate regions which showed considerable deviations but were‐on average in fairly good agreement with indirectly determined Ca: Si ratios of pastes of the same material. There was no significant difference in composition between inner and outer hydration products.