Possibilities of Checking Water Content in Porous Geopolymer Materials Using Impedance Spectroscopy Methods

Abstract

The porous geopolymer has been tested for its content of water using impedance methods. The pores of the material were filled with distilled water using a desiccator and a vacuum pump. An analysis of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was carried out in the next step to check the content of water, porosity and approximate value of specific heat of the geopolymer. Additionally, mercury porosimeter has been used for checking the porosity. The geopolymer material characterized in this way was subjected to impedance tests aimed at developing a quick method for assessing the water content in the material. Impedance measurements have been realized on an electrochemical workstation applying a 50 mV non-destructive amplitude of the potential and a frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 kHz. Change in the module of impedance and the phase shift angle were measured while the material was dried out. Significant differences were observed. The obtained graphs were simulated using a schematic model consisting of constant phase elements (CPEs) and a resistor (R). These values showed mechanisms of charge conduction. A simple method for assessing the water content of a porous geopolymer has been proposed in this paper. The real and imaginary impedance values were shown in Nyquist graphs. These graphs have characteristic maxima that move according to a linear equation with decreasing water content. Changes in Nyqiust charts are clearly visible even with small changes in the water content of the material and can be very useful for assessing it.