ABSTRACT
Abstract Due to their special properties such as increased density and improved strength high performance concretes (HPC) are used in many different applications in civil engineering. Usually HPC is made of conventional cements modified with microfiller, for example silica fume. In the present paper, the use of microcements as a new way for modifying conventional cements for HPC is introduced. Microcements are special binders based on Portland cement or granulated blast furnace slag characterized by high fineness and limited maximum particle size compared to conventional cements. With the help of microstructural studies, it is shown how these microcements can be used as building blocks for the formation of a densified structure of the cementitious matrix and the interfacial transition zone (ITZ).
