Author
L M OTTOSEN and I RÖRIG-DALGÅRD
Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark

Abstract
When a fine grained, porous medium is subjected to an electric DC field, transport of matter occurs, and the transport mechanism examined in the present study is that of electro-osmosis, which is the transport of water. In the laboratory it was shown to be possible to transport water inside a brick and brick/mortar system in an applied electric field. Electrodes were constructed and placed inside an old house with moisture problems due to the capillary rise of water. The water content of the experimental wall was about 14% by weight. The electro-osmotic effect was even more pronounced here than in the in the laboratory, and a clear movement of water towards the cathode was seen. Thus the basis for utilizing the electro-osmotic effect for drying brick masonry is presented, but proper electrodes still need to be developed.