MICROSTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF RPC (REACTIVE POWDER CONCRETE)

Reactive Powder Concretes (RPC) are characterized by high silica fume content and very low water to cement ratio. Granulometry and heat trea tment were optimized to obtain excellent mechanical and durability pro perties. The study of several RPC compositions by Mercury Porosimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis and X-ray diffraction made it possible to better understand their microstructural properties depending on their heat treatment. Influence of temperature on hydration and pozzolanic r eaction were examined. For high temperature, the presence of a crystal hydrate, xonotlite, was observed. Mercury Porosimetry also showed tha t a minimum porosity could be obtained with selected heat treatment.