QUALITY CONTROL

Petrography is also an important tool in concrete quality control, particularly in the examination of aggregates for deleterious materials.

Petrographic examination can identify potential aggregate problems such as:

Chemical Quality:
  • Alkali-silica reactivity
  • Alkali-carbonate reactivity
  • Contaminated aggregates
  • Water-soluble or reactive minerals
  • Minerals which may stain concrete
Physical Quality:
  • Weak or friable particles
  • Porous particles
  • Expansive particles
  • Roundness or angularity
  • Smoothness or roughness of surfaces
  • Dust or coatings on aggregate particles


All material © 2002-2003 by Analytical Consulting Group, Inc.