Characterisation of Portland cement clinker

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

• Our expertise is based on many decades of tradition of interdisciplinary research and analysis of clinker
• We adapt the scope of the analyses and the approach to your problem in the best possible way (e.g. solving acute problems or optimisation of the process or product)
• Documentation of the results in comprehensible technical reports
• Derivation of practical measures for implementation
• Regular monitoring of important clinker parameters and microstructural properties and presentation in clear table-based short reports for long-term control of process and product quality

• We are happy to send you exemplary Technical Reports or table-based Reports of Analysis
• Are you particularly interested in clinker microscopy? In the following download area you will find the VDZ picture atlas "Microscopy of cement clinker"  and other interesting VDZ publications
• We would also be pleased to offer you customer-specific training courses on the subjects of XRF, QXRD, clinker microscopy or other methods mentioned above - at VDZ or at your premises