Thermoporometry and Proton NMR Measurement on Cement Paste Equilibrated at Different Relative Humidities

In this study, thermoporometry by differential scanning calorimetry and proton NMR measurements of hardened cement paste equilibrated under different humidity conditions were carried out, and the results of both measurements were compared. The results reveal that thermoporometry by low temperature DSC measurement cannot detect the water present in samples equilibrated at low relative humidity.

On the other hand, it is possible to detect a signal at low relative humidity by proton NMR measurement. It is clarified that water strongly bound to the surface, which cannot be detected by low temperature DSC, exists at a relative humidity of 33% or less. If it is relevant to detect tightly held water, such as water present in the fine gel pores, it is recommended to apply proton NMR measurements.

This paper is an extended English version of the authors’ previous work [Kurumisawa, K. and Jensen, O. M., (2020). “Measurement of cement paste at different humidities by thermoporometry and proton NMR.” Proceedings of the Japan Concrete Institute, 42, 347-352. (in Japanese)].