Positron lifetime spectroscopy as a probe of nanoporosity of cement-based materials

Hydrating cement pastes prepared with water-to-cement ratio equal to 0.5 in weight were investigated through positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy over a period of 4 weeks. Two series of samples were prepared using different pre-treatment procedures, in order to assess the influence of sample manipulations on positron annihilation measurements. The technique is sensitive to changes in the pore structure with ageing time. Moreover, from the positron data an estimate of the first two moments of radii distribution of the nanopores was obtained.