The suitability of solvent exchange techniques for studying the pore structure of hardened cement paste

An examination was made of the interaction between three organic solvents (methanol, propan-2-ol and ethanol) and samples of calcium hydroxide and of hardened cement paste. The techniques used were thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, infra-red spectroscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Although there was evidence of a reaction between the solvents (particularly methanol) and cement paste during thermal analysis, there was no indication of a reaction at room temperature. The pore size distribution of vacuum-dried cement samples was unaffected by methanol soaking, and it is concluded that solvent exchange techniques are suitable for the preparation of samples for pore structure determinations.