Application of 1H NMR to the hydration monitoring of lime-pozzolan mortars

Abstract

The micro-structural evolution of a lime-pozzolan system, during hydration, was studied by 1 H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The hydration process was monitored for a period of 1 year by 1 H NMR spin-lattice relaxation measurements, performed in a portable magnet. The development of the hydration was also examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal analysis (DTA/TG) and compared with the NMR results. The results indicated that 1H NMR provides valuable information on the hydration process of lime-pozzolan mortars in a non-invasive way, as it was possible to monitor the development of the hydration phases through the resulted microstructure, in real-time. © RILEM 2012.