Nuclear magnetic resonance study of hydration of synthetic white cement: continuous quantitative monitoring of water and Ca(OH)₂ during hydration

The solidification of synthetic white cement is monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance. Proton signals in several different environments are resolved and the time evolution of their dynamics and relative numbers is presented. The amounts of liquid water (the water which has not yet entered the solid structure to become crystalline water) and Ca(OH)₂ crystallites are monitored precisely during hydration. The technique gives a quantitative insight into the hydration process as well as the growth (and decay) pattern of various cement paste components.