Nanoindentation characteristics of cement paste and interfacial transition zone in mortar with rice husk ash

The nanostructure of cementitious materials has important effects on concrete properties. The effects of rice husk ash (RHA) on cement hydration product phases and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in mortar were investigated from the nano-scale structure perspective. The experimental results indicate that, with the increase of RHA dosages of samples, the volume fraction of high-density calcium-silicate-hydrate (HD C-S-H) in porosity and hydration product phases increases. The volume fractions of HD C-S-H in C-S-H of samples show an increasing trend with the increase of RHA dosages. RHA decreases the thickness of ITZ and increases the matrix elastic moduli of samples, however, the RHA dosoges hardly affect the thickness and elastic moduli.