The micro pore structure of concrete determined by small angle neutron scattering

Abstract

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a complementary technique to electron microscopy for the elucidation of the shape and size of inhomogenities in the nanometric size range. SANS has the advantage that a large volume ( - 0.5 cm3 ) of the specimen is illuminated by the beam, and experiments can be earned out at atmospheric pressure on water saturated samples. It has the disadvantage mat, except for very simple systems, interpretation of the experimental data is not unambiguous. We have collected SANS data on a range of samples of concrete containing different water/cement ratios. The data was collected on the LOQ instrument at the ISIS spallation neutron source. We discuss interpretation of the data in terms of microscopic inhomogenities in the structure of concrete.