Composition and property of a high tricalcium silicate cement clinker

A new Portland cement clinker with high QS was studied, in which lime saturation ratio (KH), silica modulus(SM) and alumina modulus (IM) is 0.98, 2.4 and 2.4 respectively as well as the meal with 1% CuO (in mass, the same below). Fired at 1200°C, 1350°C, 1400°C and 1450°C for 30 min, the resultant mineral phases components and morphology were analyzed. The performances of the cement with fly ash burned at 1450°C were determined. Studies by X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy show that the larger crystals and the distinct crystal interface were obtained at 1450°C, in which the major mineral phase is 73.37% tricalcium silicate (C₃S) besides a few of dicalcium silicate (C₃S), tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) and tetracalcium aluminoferrite. The results show that the clinker with high C₃S content can be produced by a conventional method. The properties of the cement from the clinker with an addition of 50% fly ash and 5% gypsum are similar to a Portland fly-ash cement of the 32.5 grade.