Quantification of Aggregate Surface Texture Based on Three Dimensional Microscope Measurement

At the present time, the usage of optical microscopy allows extension of aggregate surface texture detection methods. Three-dimensional data outputs of the aggregate particles can be obtained by these methods and provide additional opportunities in the field of texture evaluation. In this paper, the new approach for quantification of aggregate particle texture is described. Aggregate particles with different texture were scanned by the stereomicroscope and the data files with three-dimensional information were exported. The MicroSYS program was developed to determine new three-dimensional texture evaluating parameter. The Z-plane volume difference characteristic represents aggregate surface texture as a percentage difference between two volumes (aggregate volume and wrapping volume).