Chemical and mineralogical composition
- Analysis of major and minor element oxides using X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) on fused beads
- Calculation of the clinker phase contents acc. Bogue (C3S, C2S, C3A, C4AF, C2F, C) and other parameters (lime saturation factor, silica ratio, alumina ratio, degree of sulfatisation, etc.) based on the XRF data
- Determination of the contents of clinker and other phases using quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis (QXRD) based in Rietveld refinement
- QXRD on the residue after methanol-salicylic acid digestion (M/S digestion); the digestion dissolves the calcium silicates from the sample and allows more accurate quantification of cubic and orthorhombic C3A, C4AF, periclase alkali sulphates and other minor clinker phases
Clinker Microstructure
- Assessment of the granule sizes, dust content, colour, burning degree, etc.
- Clinker microscopy - preparation and reflected light microscopy of polished clinker sections
- Qualitative evaluation of porosity, cluster formation, phase morphology, burning degree, phase formation disturbances, inclusions, etc.
- Measurement of crystal sizes (alite, belite, matrix) and cluster sizes, evaluation of cooling conditions
- Evaluation of suitability of raw materials and kiln feed (fineness, homogeneity), fuels and fuel ashes, burning conditions, precooling and cooling, redox conditions in the clinker bed
Ono’s method
- Evaluation of heating rate, maximum temperature, length of the sintering zone and cooling conditions
Complementary methods
- Free lime content acc. EN 451-1
- Wet-chemical determination of the content of ferrous iron as an indicator for reducing burning conditions
- Trace element contents (ICP-MS, AAS)
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for high-resolution microstructure investigations, analysis of the chemical composition of individual phases and element mappings
- Color measurements using colorimeters on ground clinker samples
- Production of laboratory cements for investigations on reactivity, hydration reactions, setting behaviour, interactions with admixtures and strength development
- Determination of grindability acc. Bond and Zeisel