The Microstructure Characteristic of Compacted Laterite with Acid Pollution

Abstract

s. The microstructure characteristic of compacted laterite with acid contamination was researched by means of electronic microscope scanning and microstructures image analysis in which the hydrochloric acid was used as pollutant and the acid concentration and curing history of samples were taken into account. It shows that acid pollution significantly influences the microstructure of laterite in which with more acid concentration and longer pollution times, the microstructure images behave lower compaction, blur particle edges, dissolution cement among particles, gluing coatings parceling particles, pores among particles and darker gray color. The corresponding parameters of the microstructure behave different properties in which with longer pollution times of samples, there is a maximum of porosity, girths of particles increase, number of particles decreases, the circularity of particles is not obvious, the directionality and the fractal dimension vary with magnification of the images and with more acid concentration, the girths and porosity increase, the circularity and fractal dimension decrease, the particle number and the directionality vary with the magnification of images. The result shows that the mechanism of the effect of acid contamination on laterites micro structures is that the acid erodes its particles and the cement among particles.