Glasses information from FTIR

Figure 5.11 (Crisp Wilson, 1974b) shows the time-dependent variation of the concentration of soluble ions in setting and hardening cements. Note that the concentrations of aluminium, calcium and fluoride rise to maxima as they are released from the glass. After the maximum is reached the concentration of soluble ions decreases as they are precipitated. Note that this process is much more rapid for calcium than for aluminium and the sharp decline in soluble calcium corresponds to gelation. This indication is supported by information from infrared spectroscopy which showed that gelation (initial set) was caused by the precipitation of calcium polyacrylate. This finding was later confirmed by Nicholson et al. (1988b) who, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), found that calcium polyacrylate could be detected in the cement paste within one minute of mixing the cement. There was no evidence for the formation of any aluminium polyacrylate within nine minutes and substantial amounts are not formed for about one hour (Crisp et al, 1974).

A miniaturized Fourier transform spectrometer for near-infrared measurements (FTIR, 2500-8330 nm) was developed at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe [120], Near-infrared measurements give information, for example, about the oil, water and protein content of liquids or solids. The dimensions of the detector chip are 11.5 x 9.4 mm, the device is essentially a miniaturized Michelson interferometer and it consists of a micro optical bench with beamsplitter, ball lenses, mirrors and the detector chip. The light beam is coupled in via a glass-fiber and an electromagnetic actuator. The signal is derived from the signal response of the detector by Fourier transformation. 

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