Application of X-ray microtomography to quality assessment of fibre cement boards

•The differences in material compactness of fibre-cement specimens were established.•Using micro-CT specimens produce different images of their microstructure.•The effect of microstructure tightening due to saturation was detectable.•The described method can be applied as the useful tool for testing the structures.

In this paper a method of X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) was employed for a direct insight into a microstructure of fibre cement boards of different quality. Four specimens were subjects of examination. Two parameters were determined to characterize the level of compaction of fibres in concrete matrix: mean-square displacement of migrating virtual particles after 500,000 of time steps and a diffusive tortuosity. The results of the investigation had revealed that fibre cement boards differing in density produce different images after processing with micro-CT method. The effect of microstructure tightening due to saturation using dying agent was also detectable.