The effect of metakaolin and hybrid polymers on the microstructure of concrete

It has been established that metakaolin (MK) can be applied as a supplementary cementitious material and that some polymers can enhance substantial properties of concrete. Previous studies showed that, when used in combination, MK and polymers can complement each other, and enhance further the mechanical and durability properties of concrete, which were not improved by one another separately. To have a deep observation and understanding of the mechanism of concretes modified with various combinations of MK and polymers, this study investigates the changes in the microstructures based on SEM combined with CT scan analysis scan technologies. The findings show that the microstructure of the pore of hardened concrete modified with combined MK and hybrid polymers is significantly improved compared to samples with MK or polymers alone. This indicates that this approach can be effectively used to provide additional proof on the strength and porosity properties of high-performance concrete.