Research of the structure of cement-sand solutions exposed to the superhigh-frequency electromagnetic radiation

The durability of building materials can be enhanced by affecting the structure with different types of radiation. In some research papers it is noted that magnetic and microwave radiation intensifies the processes of cement dissolution and hydration at earlier periods, that leads to the formation of fine crystalline structures, decrease in porosity, increase in density, strength, frost resistance and durability in general. The work studied the characteristics of structural changes in cement-sand mortars (CMR) from dry mixtures under the influence of microwave radiation (UHF EMP). The structure of the samples has been investigated with the scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive spectrometer, the composition of the samples has been determined by means of X-ray diffractometer. The result of the studies shows a greater dissolution percentage of clinker minerals with respect to unirradiated samples. It has been determined that in irradiated samples the hydration process runs more intensively, that might lead to accelerated strengthening in early periods, as well as to increase in strength at the age of 28 days compared to the control samples.