A physico-chemical model of the water vapour sorption isotherm of hardened cementitious materials

Wang, Y; Wang, X; Scholz, M; Ross, DK

Abstract

This paper reports on the recent development of a physico-chemical model for the water retention characteristic of porous media and its application to the prediction of water vapour sorption isotherm of cementitious materials. This research aims to develop a convenient method for analysis of pore size. The model is used to predict the water vapour isotherm, which is compared with those using a traditional model.

Citation

Wang, Y., Wang, X., Scholz, M., & Ross, D. (2012). A physico-chemical model of the water vapour sorption isotherm of hardened cementitious materials. Construction and Building Materials, 35, 941-946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.05.021

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Jul 31, 2012
• Journal: Construction and Building Materials
• Print ISSN: 0950-0618
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Pages: 941-946
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.05.021
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.05.021
• Additional Information: References : [1] Allen AJ, Thomas JJ. Analysis of C–S–H gel and cement paste by small-angle neutron scattering. Cem Concr Res 2007;37:319–24. [2] Wheeler A. Presentations at catalysis symposia, Gibson Island A.A.A.S. conferences; 1945 and1946. [3] Shull CG. The determination of pore size distribution from gas adsorption data. J Am Chem Soc 1948;70:1405–10. [4] Barrett EP, Joyner LG, Halenda PP. The determination of pore volume and area distributions in porous substances. I. Computations from nitrogen isotherms. J Am Chem Soc 1951;73:373–80. [5] Pierce C. Computation of pore sizes from physical adsorption data. J Phys Chem 1953;57:149–52. [6] Baroghel-Bouny V, Mainguy M, Lassabatere T, Coussy O. Characterization and identification of equilibrium and transfer moisture properties for ordinary and high-performance cementitious materials. Cem Concr Res 1999;29: 1225–38. [7] van Genuchten MT. A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 1980;44:892–8. [8] Wang Y, Grove SM, Anderson MG. A physical-chemical model for the static water retention characteristic of unsaturated porous media. Adv Water Resor 2008;31:701–13. [9] Wang Y. Phase deterministic modelling of water retention in unsaturated porous media and its potential in dynamic unsaturated flow application. J Porous Media 2010;13:261–70. [10] Churaev NV. Liquid and vapour flow in porous bodies: surface phenomena. Amsterdam: Gorden and Breach Science Publishers; 2000. [11] Adamson AW. Physical chemistry of surfaces. 5th ed. London: John Wiley & Sons; 1990. [12] Tuller M, Or D. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of structured porous media: a review of liquid configuration-based models. Vadose Zone J 2002;1:14–37. [13] McCash EM. Surface chemistry. Oxford University Press; 2001. [14] Brunauer S, Mikhail RS, Bodor EE. Pore structure analysis without a pore shape model. J Colloid Interface Sci 1967;24:451–63. [15] Kiselev AV. Usp Khim 1945;14:367 [in Russian]. [16] Wang Y. Modelling the t-curve of the water vapour sorption isotherm of nonporous adsorbents and the water retention curve of porous media. Research Report, University of Salford; 2011. [17] Dullien FAL. Porous media fluid transport and pore structure. USA: Academic Press Inc.; 1991. [18] Baroghel-Bouny V. Water vapour sorption experiments on hardened cementitious materials: Part I: essential tool for analysis of hygral behaviour and its relation to pore structure. Cem Concr Res 2007;37:414–37.