A new scheme for analysis of pore characteristics using centrifuge driven non-toxic metal intrusion

This study investigates the intrusion behavior of a non-toxic low-melting-point metal using centrifugation to develop a better pore characterization technique for cementitious materials such as ordinary Portland cement. This study suggests that centrifugation is a safe and effective method for driving melted low-melting-point alloys into cementitious material at pressure between 12 and 15 MPa. The non-toxic Field's metal alloy is suggested as a replacement for the toxic Wood's metal. For pores between 100 nm and 10 lm, Field's metal can be used without vacuuming the sample before intrusion. For pores [10 lm, pre-vacuuming of the sample is suggested to prevent the extrusion of hardened Field's metal from large pores. Different failure modes for the extrusion phenomenon were analyzed and the results suggest that weak bonding between the Field's metal and the cement matrix is the main cause for the extrusion. The new scheme may also be applicable to porous geomechanical materials such as porous rock, sand and clay.