Formation of Portland clinker—studies on synthetic raw meals

Synopsis On a series of laboratory made raw meals that contained only the four main oxides CaO, SiO₂, Al₂O3 and Fe₂O3_{}the sequence of reactions leading to the formation of Portland clinker was studied. Pellets made from raw meals of different composition were heated to different temperatures and analysed after quenching in air. It was found that the sequence of reactions taking place in the burning process and the temperatures at which new phases became detectable were virtually independent of the A/F ratio (Al₂O3/Fe₂O3) in the raw meal whereas the rate of C2S and C3S formation was distinctly accelerated with increasing iron content.