Basic Cement Chemistry
Learning Objectives
Know the meaning and the way of presentation of chemical and mineralogical
composition of cement specific materials
Know the chemical moduli applied for cement specific materials
Know the Bogue-calculation for clinker mineral phases and the relationship with
chemical moduli
Chemical Composition
Chemical Formulae
Mineralogical Composition
Chemical Parameters for Cement-Specific Materials
Contents of Clinker Minerals According to Bogue
Relationship between Chemical Moduli and Clinker Mineral Contents
Exercise for Calculation
Elemental Composition (weight %)
Chemical Composition
Elemental composition in weight percentage. By convention, the elements are
expressed in form of their oxides (exception; Cl, F).
Usual sequence of elements in cement chemistry
L.o.I.: e.g. at 1050 C, mainly due to CO2 and H2O
Chemical Composition Examples
Chemical Formula
The chemical formula indicates the elements occurring in a chemical compound:
For a molecular compound, type and absolute number of elements are given
For a mineralogical compound, type and relative number of elements are given
Note: In mineralogical compounds, the elements need not necessarily occur in simple
numerical ratios (impurities, solid solution)
Chemical Formulae
In the cement chemistry, shorthands are often used:
Mineralogical Composition
Composition of material, expressed in weight-percentage of the occurring minerals
Note: Difference between chemical and mineralogical composition
Chemical Parameters for Cement-Specific Materials
Titration
Content of carbonates as determined by acid-base titration, expressed as CaCO3
% Titration = 1.786 CaO + 2.48 MgO
Applied for: Limestone Marl Raw Meal
Lime Saturation
The LS is a measure to which extent the CaO-richest compounds C3S, C3A and C4AF can be
formed without the necessary presence of free lime. At LS > 100, free lime will unavoidably
be present after burning.
Applied for:
Raw meal
Clinker
Cement: neat OPC only
CaO = CaO(total) 0.7 SO3
Usual range in clinker: 85 100
Note: The influence of MgO can be accounted for
Max. 2% MgO may be introduced in formula (not applied in cement specifications)
Silica Ratio
Applied for:
Siliceous-argillaceous raw components
Raw Meal
Clinker
Cement
Usual range in clinker: 1.8 3.6
Alumina Ratio
Applied for:
Siliceous-argillaceous raw components
Raw Meal
Clinker
Cement
Usual range in clinker: 1 3
Na2O-equivalent
Total alkali content, expressed as Na2O
Na2O-equivalent = Na2O + 0.658 K2O
Note:
Limit for low alkali cement
Na2O-equivalent < 0.6 %
Applied for:
Clinker
Cement
Moduli of Main Clinkers in Holcim group
Moduli of Main Clinkers
Content of clinker Minerals according to Bogue
Percentage content of clinker minerals, assuming that chemical equilibrium is
attained, and that no impurities are present.
C3S = 4.07 CaO 7.6 SiO2 6.72 Al2O3 1.43 Fe2O3
C2S = 8.6 SiO2 + 5.07 Al2O3 + 2.08 Fe2O3 3.07 CaO
or 2.87 SiO2 0.754 C3S
C3A = 2.65 Al2O3 1.69 Fe2O3
C4AF = 3.04 Fe2O3
In reality, the mineralogical composition of industrial clinkers differs to some extent from
that calculated according to Bogue.
Applied for Cement
OPC only (excl. blended cements)
Correction for CaO in CaSO4: CaO = CaOtot 0.70 SO3
For AASHTO: TiO2 and P2O5 to be added to Al2O3 (no longer for ASTM)
Clinker
CaO can be corrected for free lime; depending on objective of calculation CaO = CaOtot
CaOfree
Significance of Clinker Minerals for Cement Properties
Significance of Clinker Minerals for ASTM Cement Types
Type I Portland no restrictions regarding clinker minerals
Type II Portland with moderate sulphate resistance (and moderate heat of hydration)
C3A max. 8 %
(C3S + C3A max. 58% for moderate heat of hydration)
Type III Portland with high early strength
C3A max. 15% (C3A max. 8% for moderate sulphate resist. C3A max. 5% for high sulphate
resist.)
Type IV Portland with low heat of hydration
C3S max. 35%
C2S min. 40%
C3A max. 7%
Type V Portland with high sulphate resistance
C3A max. 5.0 %
C4AF + 2 C3A max. 25%
or C4AF + 2 C2F max. 25%
Clinker Minerals as Function of LS
Clinker Minerals as Function of SR
Clinker Minerals as Function of SR
Clinker Minerals as Function of AR
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