Analytical Electron Microscopy for Interface Characterization — Corrosion of Concrete

Abstract

Anthropogenic acid pollutants, above all SO₂, have been deteriorating large parts of the environment, causing economical damages of approximately 1% of the national budgets^{1, 2}. Concerning concrete structures, decay is a consequence of local tensional overload. At cement-aggregate interfaces flexural strength is a minimum. These interfaces exhibit also high frost and corrosion sensitivity³. Therefore analytical studies of the interfaces are expected to yield significant information on concrete deterioriation caused by acid attack.