Effectiveness of Different Mineralizers in Cement Manufacture

Abstract

In view of the shortage of energy sources there is greater demand for saving as much energy as possible in cement manufacturing process. The use of mineralizers is one of the ways to help in lowering the clinkering temperature. The results were obtained on the relative efficacy of eight mineralizers on clinkering. The basis of assessment was the estimation of free lime in the clinker prepared at different temperatures and the strength development in the cements so prepared from these clinkers. The fluoride bearing mineralizers were found effective at all the temperatures studied (i.e. 1200-1400-degrees-C). The zinc oxide was found effective only at higher clinkering temperatures. Calcium chloride was not found effective particularly at lower clinkering temperatures. However, a combination of fluoride and sulphate was found overall to be more effective than other individual mineralizers studied. A specially prepared compound mineralizer (MTM) has been found most effective. Whenever the temperature increased above a certain level, efficacy of mineralizer diminished.