Investigation of the Self-Compacting Concrete with Fly Ash from the Microstructural Aspect

Abstract

Characterization of concrete with the aid of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is a useful segment of the correlation analysis between formed structure and the physical and mechanical properties of these composites. Use of fly ash in our construction industry is a modern theme, due to the ecological impact and also, due to the positive effects in physical and mechanical properties of the composites with fly ash. Results of investigation of Self-Compacting Concrete – SCC with mineral addition of fly ash with accent on their microstructure are presented in the paper. Analyzed components of the microstructure included: porosity, interface transition zone (ITZ), quality of cement matrix and the other relevant properties. Results of these investigations showed improvement of the microstructure of SCC with fly ash, due to pozzolanic reaction of fly ash.