Implementation of capillary penetration coefficient on water sorptivity for porous building materials: An experimental study

Abstract

Neutron radiography is used to study the relation between water sorptivities (s) and capillary penetration coefficient (k), and to reveal impacts of sealing method on the water absorption process in brick samples. Except for the ends, the samples' outer surfaces were coated with a polymeric waterproofing slurry. While the samples were absorbing water, neutron radiography images were recorded continuously. Analyses of the acquired images, as well as published results for construction building materials, were used to determine water sorptivities (s), capillary penetration coefficient (k), and capillary porosity (θc). The results showed that s is proportional to k in a direct manner, and that θc is the proportionality constant. It was found that samples coated with a polymeric waterproofing slurry absorb water more quickly than samples coated with acrylic paint.