Hydraulic-cement mixtures

Hydraulic-cement mixtures (including concrete, mortar, render, screed, terrazzo, stucco, etc.)

Concrete is one of the most popular construction material and is used throughout the world in various environmental conditions and settings.  The quality of a concrete for a particular use, depends amongst others, on the aggregate constituents, aggregate grading and distribution, cement type and abundance, original water/cement ratio, air void content and workmanship (including mixing, compaction and curing).  Petrography could in most cases, provide information on the presence, abundance and distribution of mineral additions, filler, reinforcement fibres, condition of reinforcement bars, and an indication of the use of chemical admixtures.  Petrographic examination can help determine the quality of concrete structures and identify potential causes of defects, or the presence of constituents or secondary deposits that could possibly lead to the earlier than expected deterioration of an apparently sound concrete.  Petroclays Materials undertakes the routine petrographic monitoring of concrete and thorough investigation of concrete quality and failures.  Most of the techniques applied to concrete petrography also apply to other hydraulic-cement mixtures.