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min, the mix had developed sufficient stiffness to stand
upright and maintain an edge produced by a cutting tool.
Consolidation of the 30-min and especially the 45-min
samples was difficult. However, the temperature of the fresh
concrete mass was hardly affected by the prolonged mixing,
being between 8 and 9 8C throughout.
3.2. Microstructural effects
Examination of the 1-min specimen revealed the patchy
microstructure previously described [1]. Fig. 1 shows an
area displaying neighboring porous and dense patches, with
the boundary between them particularly sharp. The dense
area shows a substantially higher content of residual cement
grains than the porous area, with inner product C–S–H
surrounding most of them.
The division of the hcp into dense and porous areas
persists in Fig. 2, taken from the 10-min specimen. The
darker appearance of the porous patch (due to epoxy-filled
pore space) is evident, and unhydrated cement grains are
virtually absent within it. Figs. 2 and 3 are shown in the
two-image format provided by the Aspex Personal SEM
used in this investigation. The upper scale bar pertains to the
lower-magnification image on the left. The lower scale bar
pertains to the area depicted in higher magnification on the
right, which is outlined in the square box.
Fig. 3 is taken from a specimen obtained after 30 min of
mixing and confirms that evidences of the patchy structure
are still present despite this prolonged mixing.
The microstructure of the concrete specimen obtained
after 45 min of mixing was significantly different. The hcp
appears dense throughout but contains a substantial proportion
of dark 40- to 60-Am grains not seen previously.
EDS spectra indicated that these were dolomite. It appears
that, in the extremely prolonged mixing, part of the dolomite
coarse aggregate was ground to cement fineness and
incorporated within the fresh cement paste, modifying its
microstructure substantially. The extreme stiffening of the
fresh concrete noted at 45 min (zero slump, ability to
support vertical surfaces) is apparently a consequence of the
production of these dolomite fragments and their incorporation
as filler into the fresh paste.
In any event, it is apparent that evidences of the patch
microstructure persist for at least 30 min of highly effective
mixing. Accordingly, the patchy structure is deemed not to
be an artifact of casual or incomplete concrete mixing.
4. Conclusions
(1) The patchy structure of porous hcp areas interspersed
with dense bright hcp areas of little visible porosity
reported previously in backscatter SEM observations
of a laboratory mortar and field concretes is also
found in a conventional laboratory mixed concrete of
normal w/c (0.5).
(2) This patchy structure appears to be maintained under
prolonged mixing for as much as 30 min. Thus, its
occurrence does not arise as an artifact of insufficient
concrete mixing in the specimens or concretes
previously examined.
(3) For extremely prolonged (45 min) mixing in the
present concrete, dolomite fragments were produced
from the coarse aggregate and incorporated in the hcp,
substantially modifying its microstructure and rheological
character.
Acknowledgements
I thank Mark Baker for assistance in the concrete
batching and mixing, Sulapha Peethamparan for preparation
of the SEM specimens and assistance with scanning electron
microscopy, and Jan Olek for perceptive discussions.