Mechanical properties and micro-evolution mechanism of magnesium phosphate cement at different curing ages
The mechanical damage characteristics of magnesium phosphate cement(MPC)were investigated from the macroscopic scale by using uniaxial compression test at different curing ages,and the microscopic mechanisms were revealed from the perspectives of the phase composition,microstructure and micromechanical properties evolution,and the following conclusions were obtained:MPC gradually transforms from shear-tension plastic damage to tensile brittle fracture as curing age increases.With the increasingcuring age,the content of MKP crystals in MPC increases,the content of amorphous phase hydration products and unreacted MgO gradually decreases,and the overall porosity within MPC is almost unchanged,but the pore structure is continuously refined.The continuous increase of the macroscopic strength of MPC with the increasing curing age is mainly dependent on the continuous densification of the pore structure rather than the effect of the microscopic mechanical properties of the hydration products.