Ultra Fast Imaging NMR method for measuring fast transport processes in thin porous media

R J K Nicasy; H P Huinink; S J F Erich; O C G Adan; N Tomozeiu

doi:10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.009

Ultra Fast Imaging NMR method for measuring fast transport processes in thin porous media

Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 Nov:103:61-74. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.009. Epub 2023 Jun 20.

Authors

R J K Nicasy¹, H P Huinink², S J F Erich³, O C G Adan⁴, N Tomozeiu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Eindhoven University of Technology, Applied Physics Department, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, the Netherlands; Transport in Permeable Media group, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands.
² Eindhoven University of Technology, Applied Physics Department, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, the Netherlands; Transport in Permeable Media group, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands; TNO Materials Solution, High Tech Campus 25, Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Electronic address: h.p.huinink@tue.nl.
³ Eindhoven University of Technology, Applied Physics Department, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, the Netherlands; Organization of Applied Scientific Research, TNO, P.O. Box 49, Delft, 2600 AA, the Netherlands; Transport in Permeable Media group, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands.
⁴ Organization of Applied Scientific Research, TNO, P.O. Box 49, Delft, 2600 AA, the Netherlands.
⁵ Canon Production Printing, Research and Development, AM department, Venlo, the Netherlands; Transport in Permeable Media group, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands; Eindhoven Institute of Renewable Energy Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands.

PMID: 37348740
DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.009

Abstract

Measuring moisture distributions during fast transport processes in thin porous media is a challenging task. In this paper, Ultra Fast Imaging (UFI) NMR is proposed as a valuable measurement technique for investigating moisture uptake in porous media by achieving a temporal resolution of 10 ms and spatial resolution between 14.5 and 18 μm. This paper gives a detailed explanation about the methodology and the interpretation of the signal intensity. It is shown that there exist specific T₁- and T₂- relaxation time conditions for performing UFI experiments with signal-to-noise ratios that are sufficiently high. In most cases, a contrast agent is required to optimize these relaxation times and achieve the optimal measurement conditions. In the first part of this paper, both CuSO4 and Clariscan are discussed as possible contrast agents. Furthermore, it is shown that the signal intensity can be linked to the moisture content for water based liquids. The second part of this paper covers penetration experiments on porous PVDF membranes. These measurements show that the technique is able to measure moisture profiles during fast capillary penetration and allows to extract moisture front positions. Those front positions follow a linear time behavior in PVDF membranes. Lastly the NMR-measurements showed similar results when compared to scanning absorptometry (ASA).

Keywords: -relaxation; Capillary penetration; CuSO4; GARField; Gadolinium (clariscan).

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Contrast Media*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
Porosity

Substances

polyvinylidene fluoride
Contrast Media