A Review of the Analysis of Cement Hydration Kinetics via 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

To date, the lack of experimental data concerning entrained water transport through a cementitious microstructure during self-desiccation has limited the understanding of the mechanisms of internal curing. To improve the current knowledge state regarding the moisture transport kinetics of internal curing, novel in situ nanoscale characterization techniques, primarily H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), are being applied to elucidate changes in the early age hydration effects in the porous cementitious matrix due to internal curing. Relaxation time analyses can indicate the relative intensities and percentages of free water, C-S-H interlayer (physically bound) water, and C-S-H gel (chemically bound) water. Many developments have taken place both with NMR equipment and testing technique. Consequently, this is making NMR a very useful tool in the studying permeability and moisture movement in the concrete matrix. This paper will review the current state-of-the-art regarding the application of NMR to the analysis of cementitious materials at early ages.