title: A method based on infrared detection for determining the moisture content of ceramic plaster materials.
abstract: In this work, we describe a methodology for developing a mathematical model based on infrared (IR) detection to determine the moisture content (M) in solid samples. For this purpose, an experimental setup was designed, developed and calibrated against the gravimetric method. The experimental arrangement allowed for the simultaneous measurement of M and the electromotive force (EMF), fitting the experimental variables as much as possible. These variables were correlated by a mathematical model, and the obtained correlation was M=1.12×exp(3.47×EMF), ±2.54%. This finding suggests that it is feasible to measure the moisture content when it has greater values than 2.54%. The proposed methodology could be used for different conditions of temperature, relative humidity and drying rates to evaluate the influence of these variables on the amount of energy received by the IR detector.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura (DAIA-UJAT), Carretera Cunduacán- Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán, Tabasco, CP 86690, México.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Macias-Melo
authors.affiliation: Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura (DAIA-UJAT), Carretera Cunduacán- Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán, Tabasco, CP 86690, México. Electronic address: karla.aguilar@ujat.mx.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Castro
authors.affiliation: Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura (DAIA-UJAT), Carretera Cunduacán- Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán, Tabasco, CP 86690, México.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Lemus
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico (CENIDET-TNM-SEP), Prol. Av. Palmira S/N. Col. Palmira, Cuernavaca, Morelos, CP 62490, México.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Flores-Prieto
keywords: Ceramic–plaster; IR detection; Moisture content sensor; Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy; Non-contact measurement