Stability of tricalcium silicate and other primary phases in portland cement clinker

Xuerun Li, Xiaodong Shen, Mingliang Tang, Xiaodong Li

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36 Scopus citations

Abstract

The decomposition of alite (C3S) in Portland cement clinker was investigated by isothermal annealing, aiming to provide more fundamentals for the cooling process of cement clinker so as to search for potential chance for modification of the ongoing cooling process. Clinker phases were analyzed with quantitative X-ray diffraction technique. Scanning electron microscope and microscopy were used to investigate the microstructure. The fastest decomposition rate appeared at 1125-1150 C in a temperature-time-transformation diagram. The decomposition of alite primarily occurred at the cracks, edges, and defects of the clinker. The resultant f-CaO segregated, which mainly controlled the decomposition rate of alite. The three-dimensional diffusion model (Jander) was suitable for the decomposition kinetics of alite with a non-Arrhenius behavior for the activation energy which was a piecewise linear function with temperature. Interstitial phases recrystallized during the annealing process, accompanied by an increase of the C3A and C4AF contents. The recrystallization of C3A was temperature-dependent, especially above 1000 C.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1954-1964
Number of pages11
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume53
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Feb 2014

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