Application of Backscattered Electron Imaging and Image Analysis in Microstructure Research on Cement-Based Materials

Since the 1980s,backscattered electron imaging and image analysis(BSE-IA) technique for polished surfaces has been proposed as a method to analyze cement and concrete microstructures.This technique is widely applied for both qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis.The principle of BSE-IA technique and its application in cement paste and concrete research were reviewed,and the advantages and disadvantages of this technique in qualitative and quantitative analysis of different phases in cement paste were compared with those of other techniques.It was indicated that BSE-IA technique had some distinctive advantages for cement studies.