Quality improvers in cement making – State of the art : COIN Project P1 Advanced cementing materials : SP 1.1F Reduced CO2 missions

Abstract

It has been shown that the overall cement properties are interconnected and in many cases there is still potential for further production improvement by only optimising the different stages (e.g. separate grinding, mill operation etc.). This, in turn, indicates the potential for quality improvers to further optimise the production and improve the quality of the cement. It was found that the combination of certain alkanolamines (TEA and TIPA) with calcium nitrate gave considerable enhanced early strength. Probably the same effect will be found combining nitrate with the highly efficient grinding aid DEA. If quality improvers are used for clinkers that are mineralised with for example Zn, Ti or Cr, significant improvement can be achieved. The total improvement as ecrease in clinkering temperature, increased Blaine surface and increased early strength can be measured and expressed in terms of decreased energy used pr. cubic metre of produced concrete.