Determination of cement content in soil-cement mixtures and concrete by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis provides a rapid but accurate method for determination of cement content in soil-cement mixtures and concrete. Like all methods utilizing the measurement of calcium content, accuracy and even applicability for the determination of cement content becomes poorer as calcium content of the other components (sand, aggregate, and water) increases. Advantages of the method include: (1) versatility through applications to a variety of materials including soil-cement, plastic concrete, hardened in-place concrete, core samples, and sand-shell mixtures; (2) use of large, representative samples; (3) simplicity of procedure; and (4) freedom from interfaces from changes in particle size and changes in heavy metal content in aggregates. Extensions of the activation analysis method also promised an ability to be able to measure other components in building materials. Such additional information will be obtained at the expense of simplicity of procedures, equipment, and backgound of technician used