Scanning Electron Microscopy and clay geomaterials: From sample preparation to fabric orientation quantification

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has been widely used to investigate the microstructure of clays, and several studies have examined influence particles orientation on mechanical behaviour soil. However, as effect sample preparation that precedes imaging soil not systematically studied yet, extent which clay is disrupted quantified. This work investigated samples having different mineralogy, stiffness, aggregation, stress history them at magnifications in their Freeze, Oven Air dried state using SEM, wet Environmental SEM (ESEM) CryoSEM. The imaged micrographs was quantified with MiCA (Microstructural Clay Analyser), a Computer Vision based tool. results shows greatest for dispersed soft samples, where detected order increases decreasing drying speed, regardless mineralogy. this seems affect degree when CryoSEM technique employed. Moreover, flocculated generated acidic sedimentation environment overall experience lower reorientation. Finally, fabric stiff undisturbed significantly influenced by applied method.