Designation:C1723−16StandardGuideforExaminationofHardenedConcreteUsingScanningElectronMicroscopy1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationC1723;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thisguideprovidesinformationfortheexaminationofhardenedconcreteusingscanningelectronmicroscopy(SEM)combinedwithenergy-dispersiveX-rayspectroscopy(EDXorEDS).Sincethe1960s,SEMhasbeenusedfortheexaminationofconcreteandhasprovedtobeaninsightfultoolforthemicrostructuralanalysisofconcreteanditscomponents.TherearenostandardizedproceduresfortheSEManalysisofconcrete.SEMsupplementstechniquesoflightmicroscopy,whicharedescribedinPracticeC856,and,whenapplicable,techniquesdescribedinPracticeC856shouldbeconsultedforSEManalysis.Forfurtherstudy,seethebibliographyattheendofthisguide.1.2ThisguideisintendedtoprovideageneralintroductiontotheapplicationofSEM/EDSanalyticaltechniquesfortheexaminationandanalysisofconcrete.Itismeanttobeusefultoengineersandscientistswhowanttostudyconcreteandwhoarefamiliarwith,butnotexpertin,theoperationandapplica-tionofSEM/EDStechnology.TheguideisnotintendedtoprovideexplicitinstructionsconcerningtheoperationofthistechnologyorinterpretationofinformationobtainedthroughSEM/EDS.1.3ItiscriticalthatpetrographeroroperatororbothbefamiliarwiththeSEM/EDX(EDS)equipment,specimenpreparationprocedures,andtheuseofotherappropriateproceduresforthispurpose.Thisguidedoesnotdiscussdatainterpretation.Properdatainterpretationisbestdonebyindividualsknowledgeableaboutthesignificanceandlimita-tionsofSEM/EDX(EDS)andthematerialsbeingevaluated.1.4TheSEMprovidesimagesthatcanrangeinscalefromalowmagnification(forexample,15×)toahighmagnification(forexample,50000×orgreater)ofconcretespecimenssuchasfragments,polishedsurfaces,orpowders.Theseimagescanprovideinformationindicatingcompo...
