Probing development of microstructure of early cement paste using 1H low-field NMR

Development of microstructure of early cement paste (0–6 h) was investigated with ¹H low-field NMR. It was found that T ₂ (transverse relaxation time) distributions of fresh cement paste were bimodal and two peaks were ‘long component’ and ‘short component’. Separation degree of two peaks was a sign of exchange of water within flocculation and outside flocculation. Factors such as water cement ratio, specific surface area and dosage of superplasticizer had influences on the separation degree: the separation degree increased with the water cement ratio; the separation degree of cement paste prepared with cement with a high specific surface area was zero; dosage of superplasticizer will decrease separation degree. Results also suggested that T ₂ distribution gradually moved to the left and T ₂ of long component and initial fluidity were linearly correlated.