ESEM drying tests: Microcracking initiation in thin cement paste due to early age drying

Scattered and discontinues microcracking as a subsequent side-effect of deformations due to early age drying, occurs in thin (approximately 1 mm thick) cement paste samples, when stepwise dried in ESEM. Microcracking of cement paste and restrains appear to be practically unavoidable. They are related to a phenomenon of interfaces (‘matrix’ and ...