Using Microscopy to Understand Characteristics of Construction Materials

This course will begin by introducing you to the principles of microscopy. You will learn how to improve imaging characteristics from samples, as well as how you can interpret images. You will learn about the techniques of microscopy and specimen preparation for microscopy. This will lead you into the features and functions of available microscopy techniques, the distinction between scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. This course will also enable you to understand the limits of detection for scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. 

Next, you will understand the comparison between each of the techniques of optical microscopy and the concept of specimen preparation for microscopy. You will gain an understanding of the process of scanning electron microscopy and how you can interpret the images successfully to obtain the right understanding of the material characteristics at the micro-scale. You will then explore scanning electron microscopy systems, the parts and functions of scanning electron microscopes as well as the analysis of cementitious systems.

Finally, you will learn how X-ray diffraction can be used to influence curing temperature, as well as practical scenarios where different curing conditions are applied. Moving on, you will gain understanding on the durability behaviour in sulphate exposure and the durability behaviour in chloride exposure. You will further develop an understanding of certain rules to be followed when you are doing measurements with EDX, how to get an overall range of compositions or how to get an approximate idea about the exact composition of a phase. Start learning today!