Luminescence rigidochromism as a probe for the setting of gypsum plaster

The setting of gypsum plaster can be monitored by luminescence rigidochromism. The progress of the setting process which is accompanied by hardening is indicated by a blue shift of the phosphorescence of a suitable water soluble rhenium complex. This rigidity increase of the plaster/water mixture takes place in two phases. In the beginning the rigidity increase is rather large while in the second much longer phase it is relatively small. The addition of a plasticizer (or retarder) keeps the rigidity smaller in the beginning, but only slightly affects the final rigidity of the set plaster.