Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Detecting the Water-soluble Chloride Distribution of Cement Paste in a High-precision Way
Published on: November 21, 2017
CIEDE2000 colour difference formula for surface colour analysis of low-carbon grey and white portland cement pastes
Payam Shafigh1,2, Poh-Yee Loh3, Yong Jin1
1Department of Civil Engineering, College of Architecture and Energy Engineering, Wenzhou University of Technology, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract:
The global movement towards sustainable concrete is accelerating the adoption of low-carbon cement within the construction sector. Many engineering properties of low-carbon cement-based materials (CBMs) containing supplementary cementitious materials have been extensively studied and are well understood, but information regarding colour properties is limited. In this study, a colour analysis was conducted on cement paste incorporating ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) as replacement material for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and white Portland cement (WPC). The replacement levels were set at 0%, 30%, 50% and 70% by OPC or WPC volume. Results from CIEDE2000 colour difference formula (∆E00) showed that the water-cured WPC paste had highest colour uniformity (∆E00 = 0.10 ± 0.03), whereas the OPC paste had the lowest (∆E00 = 1.29 ± 0.76). GGBS addition increases the lightness (L*) of the OPC paste but decreases the L* of the WPC paste at similar rates. The highest colour difference (∆E00) between a control mix (has only OPC or WPC) and mixes containing 70% GGBS was approximately 7. When red iron oxide pigment was added, the ∆E00 value dropped to approximately 3.7 for the WPC mix and 1.5 for the OPC mix. This result shows that a notable colour change was observed when Portland cement was replaced with high-volume GGBS in the cement pastes, but this colour difference was considerably reduced in pigmented mixtures. This interesting result reveals that in construction products, Portland cement can be replaced with high-volume GGBS without compromising the products' surface colour.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Cement II
Fineness of Cement
Direct...
Porosity in Cement Paste
The balance of water to cement in the mix is critical—it...
Portland Cement
Aggregate Cement Ratio
Strength of Cement
For compressive strength tests, ASTM C 109-05 standards prescribe a cement-sand mix ratio of 1:2.75 and a water/cement ratio of 0.485 for making 2-inch cubes. These cubes are mixed, cast, and cured in saturated lime water at 23°C until testing. Flexural strength testing, outlined in ASTM C...
