Filler from crushed aggregate for concrete: Pore structure, specific surface, particle shape and size distribution

Characteristics of fine particles (0–125 μm diameter) from seven different crushed and natural sands from five different Norwegian rock types were determined. The results suggest that the same water absorption values, as determined by EN 1097-6 on coarser sand fractions, can be applied to the fines. The values of specific surface area measurements vary widely between different materials and between different measurement methods. BET measurements seem to be strongly affected by the mineralogical composition (presence of mica) and surface morphology (weathering) of the particles. Specific surface area calculated from the particle size distributions (PSD) is mainly dependent on the precision of the test methods in the size range below about 3–5 μm, because these small particles contain most of the surface area. Shape measurements by both Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA), which is a 2-D method, and X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT), which is a 3-D method, have yielded similar relative length-to-thickness aspect ratios of the particles between different mineralogies, though with lower absolute values for DIA due to 2-D projection of 3-D quantities.