Cl. Hwang et al., PROPOSED HEALING AND CONSOLIDATION MECHANISMS OF ROCK-SALT REVEALED BY ESEM, Microscopy research and technique, 25(5-6), 1993, pp. 456-464
The grain boundary healing behavior of crushed rock salt was mainly st
udied by employing the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESE
M) to study the consolidation mechanism of rock salt backfill. Dedicat
ed miniature round rock salt specimens were prepared for observation o
f the water trapping effect by using a cold stage in the ESEM to reach
saturation conditions. Comparable high pressure pellets were prepared
for measuring the crystal growth. Consolidation tests using materials
made at different pressures and containing different moisture levels
were conducted in order to construct the proposed mechanism. Direct ob
servation of specimens in the ESEM resulted in viewing water trapped o
n the surface and the formation of a water meniscus between two partic
les. The concentration of brine at the grain boundary was observed as
contributing to the amount of recrystallization. From aforementioned o
bservations, a schematic drawing of the dissolution and recrystallizat
ion process may be redrawn. The amount of water therefore has a great
effect on the consolidation of rock salt and is possibly due to the sl
iding, rotation, or crushing of the contact zone of the granular mater
ial. From such a study, tentative healing and consolidation mechanisms
can be deduced. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.