Dielectric properties of cement mortar as a function of water content

We have studied the dielectric properties of cement mortars, with water/cement ratios between 0.5 and 0.78, in the frequency range 10−3≤f≤107 Hz. The dielectric response can be modeled by an equivalent circuit incorporating electrode polarization and bulk conduction. The bulk dc conductance and the amplitude of a constant phase element describing the dispersive part of the bulk response display characteristic dependencies on the water content of the samples. The power-law exponent of the constant phase element is independent of water content and can be related to the fractal dimension of the pore surfaces.