3D imaging of cement-based materials at submicron resolution by combining laser scanning confocal microscopy with serial sectioning
File(s)
Author(s)
Yio, MHN
Mac, MJ
Wong, HS
Buenfeld, NR
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this paper, we present a new method to reconstruct large volumes of nontransparent porous materials at submicron resolution. The proposed method combines fluorescence laser scanning confocal microscopy with serial sectioning to produce a series of overlapping confocal z-stacks, which are then aligned and stitched based on phase correlation. The method can be extended in the XY plane to further increase the overall image volume. Resolution of the reconstructed image volume does not degrade with increase in sample size. We have used the method to image cementitious materials, hardened cement paste and concrete and the results obtained show that the method is reliable. Possible applications of the method such as three-dimensional characterization of the pores and microcracks in hardened concrete, three-dimensional particle shape characterization of cementitious materials and three-dimensional characterization of other porous materials such as rocks and bioceramics are discussed.
Date Issued
2015-05-01
Date Acceptance
2014-12-30
Citation
Journal of Microscopy, 2015, 258 (2), pp.151-169
ISSN
0022-2720
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
151
End Page
169
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Microscopy
Volume
258
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2015 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2015 Royal Microscopical Society. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Journal of Microscopy, Volume 258, Issue 2, pages 151–169, May 2015, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jmi.12228. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Microscopy
Cement-based materials
laser scanning confocal microscopy
microcrack
microstructure
3D imaging
pore structure
serial sectioning
X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY
FIB-NANOTOMOGRAPHY
PARTICULATE SYSTEMS
PORE STRUCTURE
RECONSTRUCTION
SHAPE
MICROSTRUCTURES
ROUGHNESS
POROSITY
PASTE
3D imaging
Cement-based materials
laser scanning confocal microscopy
microcrack
microstructure
pore structure
serial sectioning
0204 Condensed Matter Physics
0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
0912 Materials Engineering
Microscopy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2015-02-04