NMR relaxometry during internal curing of Portland cements by lightweight aggregates

The hydration of an ordinary Portland cement of low water-to-cement ratio under the influence of internal curing by addition of water-saturated lightweight aggregates (LWA) is investigated by non-destructive low-field NMR relaxometry. The methodology, which was recently developed to investigate internal curing by addition of a water-saturated polyelectrolyte gel, is applied to follow the transition of water from the mineral aggregates into hydrating cement paste and to detect the time dependence of the water consumption by the hydration reaction. By the changes of the transverse relaxation times of the physically bound water, the compaction of the pore space of the hardening cement is estimated qualitatively. The water retention potential of two types of LWA and the temporal moisture requirement of the cement during internal curing are determined without and with superplasticizer.