MRI and T1 following of hydration and drying coupling effect on cement paste microstructure

The structural evolution of cement-based materials was monitored by SPI profiles and T-1 measurements. The SPI profiles have allowed the evaluation of the 'free' water quantity (pore) as well as the monitoring of the kinetics and depth of drying when the material was simultaneously submitted to the hydration and drying processes. Inverse Laplace analysis of T-1 measurements have shown two components of T-1 during the setting phase, with two mobility states for water. After hardening, three T-1 components have been measured thus allowing the monitoring of the microstructure evolution.