Scanning electron microscopy in the tests of fibre-cement boards

Abstract

The subject of this article is research on fiber-cement boards, which are currently used in civil engineering as cladding for ventilated facades, but also as internal claddings. When these boards are used on elevations, they are exposed to changing weather conditions, and therefore they are given the appropriate requirements for strength, mass moisture, absorbability and, above all, durability in accordance with the relevant regulations. The paper presents a proposal for using a nondestructive microscopic method for testing fiber-cement boards using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an EDS analyzer. Fibercement boards subjected to various environmental factors (moisturizing, freezing-thawing) and exceptional factors (burning at 230°C and setting on fire for 5 and 10 minutes) were tested. Interesting research results were obtained, which allowed to observe changes occurring in the microstructure of the tested boards under the influence of various factors.