Two-dimensional correlation relaxometry studies of cement pastes performed using a new one-sided NMR magnet

• Published in: Cement and concrete research Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 303 - 309
• Main Authors: McDonald, Peter J., Mitchell, Jonathan, Mulheron, Mike, Aptaker, Peter S., Korb, Jean-Pierre, Monteilhet, Luc
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Cement concrete constituents; Cements; Exact sciences and technology; Materials; NMR relaxation analysis; Properties and test methods; Properties of anhydrous and hydrated cement, test methods; Single-sided NMR; T1– T2 correlation; T 1– T 2 correlation; NMR relaxation analysis; Single-sided NMR; Performance evaluation; Relaxation; Correlation; T1-T2 correlation; International conference; Cement paste; Construction materials; Theoretical study; NMR spectrometry; Experimental study
• ISSN: 0008-8846; 1873-3948
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2006.01.013

We present preliminary results of the first NMR
T
1–
T
2 two-dimensional relaxation correlation experiments performed using a one-sided NMR system in cement based materials. Two-dimensional correlation relaxometry has itself only recently been demonstrated in cement paste where it proved to be a particularly sensitive probe of pore-water dynamics providing direct information on exchange of water between the gel and capillary pore networks. Further to this we have observed differences in the structural development of a selection of cement pastes throughout the early stages of hydration and verified the theoretical frequency dependence of the ratio
T
1
/
T
2. When coupled with instrumentation developments in one-sided NMR magnets the way is opened to detailed, spatially resolved studies of the development of hydration and porosity in the surface layers (top 50
mm) of cementitious materials. A new magnet, suitable for such applications, is discussed.