Quantifying the microstructure and phase assemblage of alkali-activated fly ash/slag materials by EDS mapping analysis
Lihui Li, Jian Yang, Huanyu Li
Abstract
Accurately quantifying the proportions and distributions of reaction products is crucial for interpreting reaction mechanisms and microstructure evolution in alkaline activated fly ash/slag paste. However, existing techniques are limited in their ability to provide a comprehensive and visual analysis. This paper presents a versatile energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) image analysis that enables image enhancement, phase extraction, and component classification in the alkaline-activated materials (AAMs) -irrespective of the nature and quality of element mappings. The proposed methodology effectively removes the detection noise that inherently existed in EDS images, subsequently reinforcing the accuracy of the clustering analysis. The phase extraction procedure allows for obtaining the proportion of pores, reaction products, and unreacted solid precursors (SPs). Moreover, the further component classification procedure enables further categorization of the reaction products and unreacted SPs. By analyzing the element ratios and shortest distances, the chemical compositions and spatial distributions of various reaction products could be revealed. Through the application of different analysis schemes, a consistent tendency was obtained, validating the practicability and reliability of this methodology.