A contribution to the characterization of the silicate-water interface – Part II: Atom Probe Tomography of tricalcium silicate

C. Naber*, T. Sowoidnich, F. Bellmann, J. Neubauer, K. A. DeRocher, D. Joester

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work explores the possibility to investigate the nanoscale cement-water interface by means of atom-probe tomography (APT). For this purpose, the main compound of Ordinary Portland Cement, tricalcium silicate, and its hydration product calcium-silicate-hydrate have been analyzed by APT. Of special interest was the surface of anhydrous and hydrated tricalcium silicate. The results show, that a nanoscale characterization of tricalcium silicate with APT is possible by carefully controlling the various measurement parameters. Furthermore, our results indicate, that the conditions during focused ion beam sample preparation, especially the high vacuum and energy input, are potentially harmful to calcium-silicate-hydrate. Future developments in cryo sample preparation will greatly enhance the applicability of APT on cement and its hydration products.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)72-77
Number of pages6
JournalMicron
Volume114
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2018

Funding

Atom-probe tomography was performed at the Northwestern University Center for Atom-Probe Tomography (NUCAPT). The LEAP tomograph at NUCAPT was purchased and upgraded with grants from the NSF-MRI ( DMR-0420532 ) and ONR-DURIP ( N00014-0400798 , N00014-0610539 , N00014-0910781 , N00014-1712870 ) programs. NUCAPT received support from the MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139 ) at the Materials Research Center, the SHyNE Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205 ), and the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN) at Northwestern University . We thank D. Isheim for help and support with the APT measurements. This work made use of the OMM Facility supported by the MRSEC program of the National Science Foundation ( DMR-1121262 ) at the Materials Research Center of Northwestern University and the EPIC facility of Northwestern University’s NUANCE Center, which has received support from the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205 ); the MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139 ) at the Materials Research Center ; the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) ; the Keck Foundation ; and the State of Illinois, through the IIN . This work was funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN) at Northwestern University . This work made use of the OMM Facility supported by the MRSEC program of the National Science Foundation (DMR-1121262) at the Materials Research Center of Northwestern University and the EPIC facility of Northwestern University's NUANCE Center, which has received support from the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205); the MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139) at the Materials Research Center; the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN); the Keck Foundation; and the State of Illinois, through the IIN.

Keywords

  • Atom probe tomography
  • CaSiO
  • Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (C-S-H)
  • Focused ion beam

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Cell Biology

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