Magnesia in clinker Premium
Magnesia is often present in clinker as periclase, which is formed of free MgO. However, periclase does not always provide a welcome part of the clinker’s composition and can le...
Cement Chemistry
30 posts · Page 2 of 3
New supplementary cementitious materials Premium
The search for new supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is ongoing. A recent review of existing SCMs and the potential for new ones caught the eye of Arthur Harrisson and...
Belite appearance in clinkers Premium
This month Arthur Harrisson looks at the second-most abundant constituent of cement – belite – and its appearance in clinkers. Figure 1: Type I belite with multiple sets of para...
Sulphate in clinker Premium
The amount of sulphate (SO 3 ) varies widely in cement clinker. Arthur Harrisson discusses the sources of SO 3 and its impact on clinker composition. Figure 1: relationship betw...
Raw material microscopy Premium
Microscopical methods are key tools in the assessment of potential raw materials to be used in the production of high-quality cement. This month ICR considers the use of optical...
Early strength development Premium
This month Arthur Harrisson discusses early strength development in concrete, which is affected by many variables in practice. In the two-stage process, which includes a setting...
Achieving the target Premium
While achieving targets is commonplace in the cement industry, when it comes to quality, there are a few key parameters that determine the final product in the cement production...
Loss on ignition Premium
The loss on ignition of a raw material, cement or a clinker sample is the amount of weight lost through raising the temperature of the material to a predetermined level. As an i...
Crystal inclusions in Portland cement clinker Premium
The nature of inclusions in clinker crystals provides clues about the burning environment and are therefore important indicators of clinker quality. Figure 1: blue belite inclus...
Fly ash and slag cements Premium
While cements containing fly ash or GGBS have different strength properties to ordinary Portland cement, they also benefit from improved durability and workability. A key factor...