  This study aims to identify and isolate the role of properties of water with
respect to the shape of the first desorption isotherm of hardened cement
pastes. It has been observed that desorption occurs not only by receding
meniscus but is also affected by cavitation. Classical nucleation theory was
used to understand and examine parameters that influence cavitation. The
results show that the sudden moisture loss at 0.3 pv psat in desorption
isotherm occurs due to homogeneous cavitation. Further investigations revealed
that homogeneous cavitation occurs in the part of gel porosity that is
disconnected from the rest of capillary pores in the pore network.
