Magnetic resonance profiling studies of the drying of film-forming aqueous dispersions and glue layers

We report magnetic resonance profiling experiments to monitor (i) the drying of alkyd emulsion layers, (ii) the cure of wood glue layers and (iii) water transport through glue lines. The alkyd drying is a two stage process. We report new results which support previous evidence that the alkyd drops do not coalesce until the water fraction is below circa 0.02. The profiles recorded from glue layers suggest that MR is a sensitive probe of the curing process and barrier properties of the glue. The measurements were made using GARField (stray field, STRAFI like) magnetic resonance profiling and an improved GARField magnet design characterized by two values of the gradient-to-field strength ratio at two locations offering the same field strength is also reported. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.