Durability and micro-structure of reactive powder concrete

Durability of traditional reactive powder concrete (RPC) with rich cement and high volume of fly-ash reactive powder concrete (FRPC) were studied. The X-diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurement was imployed to analyze the microstructure. The results show that both types of RPC have higher compressive strength, less volume shrinkage ratio and better carbonation-, chloride-, freezing-resistances than the conventional concrete. The results of X-diffraction indicate that they basically have C-S-H as the main composition without Ca(OH)(2) crystal and ettringite. SEM results show that hydration products of FRPC is mainly III-C-S-H which is piled up closely like densely arranged stone body and it has very compacted structure, in addition, Ca/Si ratio of C-S-H gel is lower than 1.5.