Infrared Spectroscopy in the Analysis of Building and Construction Materials

In the characterization of building and construction materials, the most frequently analytical tool performed have been X-ray diffraction but also, thermal analysis and microscopic techniques. Nowadays, infrared and other spectroscopic techniques have become as a useful, non-destructive and easy technique to study the phase composition of initial but also the evolved materials due to their exposure to the climatic conditions. Moreover, by using this tool is possible the detection of crystalline but also the amorphous phases very frequently developed on certain cementitious materials, mainly at early ages. The infrared spectroscopy is used both to gather information about the structure of compounds and as analytical tool to assess in qualitative and quantitative analysis of mixtures.