Use of Bypass Cement Dust from Al-Kufa Cement Factory for Production of Glass Ceramic Material

Abstract

Bypass cement dust was supplied from Alkufa cement factory, which has been used in preparing glass ceramic material. The percentage of bypas s cement dust which is included in the overall batch is about 30 wt%. The bypass cement dust composition has been modified by adding other m aterials like marble, granite, and silica, to prepare glass ceramic ma terial by powder technology. The prepared samples with different ratio s ingredients were pressed under a load of 15 tons/cm2 for 90 sec, in a steel mold of 30 mm in diameter, liquid phase sintering is carried o ut by using High-Temperature Furnace at 100 – 1250 º C and 208/ 240 VA C. Techniques including SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and XRD (X- ray diffraction) tests were then  used to evaluate the produced materi al. The obtained glass ceramic material have high bulk and apparent de nsity, low apparent porosity , high compression strength and hardness , low electrical and thermal conductivity. The XRD and SEM results sho wed that glass ceramic materials are formed. The phase transformation has happened and the titanite, wollastonite, diopside, periclase, and silica condense clusters phase are formed, which are the important pha ses of glass ceramic. Tests show that the sample A5 contains 38% bypas s cement dust, 30%granite, and 32% silica  , the sample C5 contains 28 % bypass, granite 30%, marble 10%, and silica 32% and the sample B4 co ntains 59% bypass , 25% marble, and 16% silica . Showing properties A5 and C5 which conform to that of glass ceramic properties  better than B4. The research is considered a pioneer work in the field of investm ent of dust of bypass cement for producing glass ceramic materials. It represents an important step and could be the basis for future resear ches leading to the achievement of glass ceramic production in Iraq.