Moisture diffusion coefficients of mortars in absorption and desorption

Water vapor diffusion coefficients have been determined with a new set-up of the cup method for mortars with three binders (OPC, OPC + 70% slag, OPC + 10% silica fume) and two water/binder-ratios (0.4, 0.5). The measurements were made as a function of relative humidity with samples on both the absorption and desorption limbs of the sorption isotherm. For OPC samples the results show a clear difference between absorption and desorption. For the samples with supplementary cementitious materials the dependence on RH is small.