Microscopy Techniques used in Construction Materials Analysis

This course will begin by introducing you to image analysis involving calculations to determine the size and shape of a particular image. You will be introduced to different methodologies, the sequence of techniques that are involved in extracting data from an image. You will explore cracking study using microscopy and phase mapping from image analysis. You will also be exploring what can be done to further enhance images. You will learn about the common types of operations performed on images known as Kernel operations. Next, the course will explain smoothing in image analysis, examples of smoothing and the software for image analysis.

The course then explains spectroscopy, as well as the kinds of interactions possible in spectroscopy and its techniques. You will gain an understanding of the principles of these techniques and using the information obtained from absorption. You will be able to explain scattering or transmission of the radiation from different types of species. This will lead you into new infrared spectrometers and interferograms. You will learn the meaning of interferometer, interferogram and how infrared spectrum is obtained from the interferogram by using the Fast Fourier Transform - FFT. 

Finally, you will learn about Fourier transform, the application of FTIR to materials research, OPC studies, slag hydration and time dependence. You will then explore the several ways to conduct nuclear magnetic resonance experiment, how the number of signals in NMR shows how many kinds of protons are present and the NMR signals with respect to chemical shifts. Also, you will learn more about magic angle spinning (MAS), MAS spectra; chemical shift and silica polymerization. Start learning today!