Calcium aluminate cement tapes – Part I: Structural and microstructural characterizations

This present paper concerns the structural and microstructural characterization of 1 mm thick calcium aluminate cement tapes prepared by tape casting. A study of the effect of environment, time and the consolidation temperature on the structural properties and microstructure has been undertaken. Consolidation environments studied are air, water and an environment saturated in humidity for storage durations of 1, 4 or 30 days at a temperature of 20 or 70 °C. The structural characterization was carried out using XRD. The microstructural characterization was carried out through the distribution of pore volume by mercury porosimetry measurements and SEM micrographs. The effects of the various consolidation parameters were compared and discussed. The tape consolidated for 30 days in water at 70 °C has the most advanced hydration with the formation of stable hydrates. This is evidenced by the reduction of the inter-granular pore size and the microstructure densification.