Understanding Cement PDF

Understanding Cement
An introduction to cement production,

cement hydration and deleterious processes in concrete
Nicholas B Winter
WHD Microanalysis Consultants Ltd

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Contents
Introduction vi
1 A brief history of cement 1

2 Cement basics 5
2.1 Some definitions 5
2.2 Some non-Portland cements 6
3 Portland cement composition and microstructure 9
3.1 Portland cement minerals 10

3.2 Portland cement composition and cement notation 12
3.2.1 Note on oxide analysis 12
3.2.2 Cement chemistry notation 13
3.3 Microstructure of clinker and cement 15
3.4 Hydraulic properties of the main clinker minerals 18
3.5 Proportions of the main clinker phases 19
3.5.1 The Bogue calculation 20
3.6 Common parameters used in cement manufacturing 26
3.7 Other Portland cement types 28
4 Portland cement manufacturing - the main components

of a cement plant 32
4.1 The quarry 32

4.2 The kiln 33
4.3 The cooler 39
4.4 The cement mill 40
5 Portland cement manufacturing from raw materials
to cement 43
5.1 Raw material blending 43
5.2 Minor constituents 43
5.3 Combinability temperatures 45
5.4 Raw material proportioning 49
5.5 Reactions in the kiln 50
5.5.1 Reactions before the burning zone 50
5.5.2 Reactions in the burning zone 51
5.5.3 Reducing conditions 52
5.5.4 Cooling of Clinker 53
5.6 Clinker sulfate phases 54
5.7 Clinker grinding and gypsum addition 57
5.8 Other additions 59
5.9 Calculation of clinker minerals in cement 61
6 Hydration of cement chemical and physical properties 63

of cementitious materials
6.1 Hydration of cement: heat evolution 64
6.2 Hydration of cement: main types of hydration
product 65
6.3 Hydration of cement: further considerations 68
6.3.1 AFm and AFt phases 69
6.3.2 Flash set and false set 71
6.3.3 Hydration of cement: other hydration products 71
6.3.4 Description of cement hydration 71
6.4 Hydration of cement: paste microstructure and wa-
ter/cement ratio 73
6.5 Hydration of cement: pore structure of cement
paste and the Powers-Brownyard model 77
6.6 Some physical properties of cementitious materials 79
6.6.1 Concrete workability 79
6.6.2 Concrete strength 81
6.6.3 Concrete permeability 82
6.6.4 Other factors 82
7 Composite Cements 84
7.1 Introduction 84
7.1.1 Background 84
7.1.2 Difference between pozzolanic and latently hydraulic
mineral additions 85
7.1.3 Effects of mineral additions on hydration products 85
and paste microstructure 85
7.1.4 Summary of benefits of using mineral additions 87
7.1.5 Potential problems of using mineral additions 88
7.2 Blastfurnace slag 88
7.2.1 Blastfurnace slag composition 88
7.2.2 Blastfurnace slag as a cementitious material 91
7.2.3 Hydration products in mixes containing slag 93
7.3 Low-lime fly ash 93
7.3.1 Fly ash composition 93
7.3.2 Fly ash as a cementitious material 94
7.3.3 Hydration products in mixes containing fly ash 96
7.4 Microsilica (silica fume) 98
7.5 Limestone 99
8 Cement variability 102

8.1 In defence of the cement producer 102
8.2 Causes of cement variability 104
9 Deleterious processes in concrete 108
9.1 Reactions between cement paste and aggregate 108

9.1.1 Alkali-silica reaction 108
9.1.2 Alkali-carbonate reaction 115
9.2 Sulfate attack in concrete and mortar 116
9.2.1 External sulfate attack 118
9.2.2 Internal sulfate attack 119
9.2.3 Thaumasite form of sulfate attack (TSA) 122
9.2.4 Sulfate attack in mortar 124
9.2.5 Identification of sulfate attack 124
9.3 Carbonation 125
9.4 Steel corrosion 131
9.5 Leaching 132
9.6 Frost damage (freeze-thaw action) 133
9.7 Efflorescence on masonry 134
10 Standards for Portland Cement 137
10.1 ASTM C 150-07 138

10.2 European Standard EN-197 140
10.2.1 European Standard EN-197, composition 140
10.2.2 European Standard EN-197, strength classes 142
10.3 Other specified cement properties 145
10.4 Dont ever mix the standards! 145
11 Cement concepts 147
11.1 Altering the properties of cement 147

11.1.1 Altering the properties of cement: modify the Port-
land cement 148
11.1.2 Altering the properties of cement: combine Portland
cement with other materials 150
11.2 A minds eye image of cement 152
11.3 Cement clinker 154
11.4 Hydrated cement 160
11.4.1 Some useful principles 160
11.4.2 Hydration of different cements 162
11.5 Towards quantifying cement hydration products 174
12 Making cement greener 176
12.1 Cutting back on burning fossil fuels 176

12.2 Reducing CO2 177
Appendix 1 - further reading 180

Introduction
This e-book is an informal introduction to cement. Perhaps you are just starting a
cement or concrete-related career; maybe you are a student, or perhaps you
already know quite a bit about cement but want to refresh your mind on some
cement chemistry. Whatever your interest in cement, if you are looking for a
basic guide to cement science, I believe that you will find this e-book helpful.
No one fully understands cement; the title of this e-book should really be
something like Understanding Cement a Bit Better. Cement is like any other
fascinating subject; the more you find out, the more you realise just how huge
the gap really is between what you know and what there is to be known.
Ive worked with cement for nearly thirty years, first at the research division of a
major cement producer, then as an independent consultant and Im only too
happy to talk about cement with anyone who is interested, so thank you for
reading this e-book. Much of my work has been to do with cement and concrete
microscopy and as a result, this e-book is very visual. They say that a picture is
worth a thousand words, and in the following pages there are a lot of images
taken using optical and scanning electron microscopes; pictures really do help in
gaining an understanding of how cement is made and how it works.
Until recently, cement generally meant Portland cement, the normal grey
powder, and Portland cement forms the main subject of this e-book as it is still
the principal cement used.
However, increasingly, Portland cement is used in conjunction with other

cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag. The extent to which these
mineral additions are used varies in different parts of the world, but looks set to
increase everywhere. The reasons are varied, but include enhanced cement
performance, conservation of virgin raw materials and a reduction in carbon
dioxide emissions.
We will look first at Portland cement production, then at Portland cement

hydration. With this firmly established, we then widen the scope of the term
cement to include composite (ie: blended) cements, looking at why they are
used and how they alter the cement hydration products. After a quick look at
some physical properties of hydrated cement, we move swiftly on to consider
why variations in Portland cement might occur between one day and the next
before considering the basics of the principal deleterious processes that can
affect concrete such as sulfate attack and alkali-silica reaction.
The penultimate chapter draws everything together in the form of thought

experiments that consolidate the main subjects from the earlier chapters.
Finally, we look briefly at how cement is becoming greener.
The material presented here is either mainstream cement science that has
undergone peer review before publication in journals or textbooks, or is industry
data regarded as non-controversial. Of course, if you should find something you
disagree with, please contact me via the Understanding Cement web site and I
would be delighted to discuss it.
Understanding Cement has its origins in a one-day seminar on cement that
Arthur Harrisson and I first gave back in 1991. Since then, the seminar content
and cement science have both evolved, and the technology for presenting it has
progressed hugely, from handwritten overhead projector slides to the internet.
This e-book is intended to be a fairly gentle introduction into the slightly arcane
world of cement science and I very much hope that the basic grounding it
provides will enable you to go on and read with confidence some of the many
other textbooks available on cement and concrete. Excellent though they mostly
are, they can be a little daunting at first, so Understanding Cement is here to
get you started.
References are provided at the end of each chapter; many are references to
more detailed treatments in some of the standard works on cement, particularly
Taylors Cement Chemistry and Leas The Chemistry of Cement. There are
also some references to individual papers where these are especially relevant.
However, I have limited the range of external references to some extent because
not all readers will have easy access to a technical library where these often
slightly obscure references may be obtained. It is the purpose of this e-book to
be helpful and encouraging, not to handicap anyone who does not have a
university library next door. In Appendix 1 are my suggestions for the nucleus of
a small cement library that will be of value for many years to anyone interested
in cement science. Together, these books contain more references than anyone is
likely to want to read in a lifetime of cement study.
I am very grateful to the many people who have helped me with this e-book,
especially the two groups of reviewers who so kindly read the draft version. The
expert reviewers were people who have spent their working lives in cement
manufacturing, concrete production, masonry, education or related fields; they
contributed greatly to the technical content. The readability reviewers had a
technical background but no specific knowledge of cement; they identified many
areas where I had not explained the subject matter sufficiently clearly. I am also
very grateful to those who have helped in other ways too numerous and diverse
to describe in detail. I particularly thank Don Ashcroft, Geoff Bowler, Tom
Burnham, Mike Burton, Josette Camilleri, Mike Connell, Ian Ferguson, Ron Green,
Arthur Harrisson, Paul Livesey, Robert Matthews, Kelly Park, Lindon Sear,
Anthony Tidder and Anna Wright.
NOTES
Spelling
The spelling used is standard British English, except for sulphur and related
words where I have adopted the International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry (IUPAC) standard spelling of sulfur.
How to use this book

Some people can happily read a book from a computer screen. If you can, that
has the advantage that you can use the search function of Acrobat Reader.
Many people, however, including me, prefer to read from the printed page and if
that is you, then print this e-book out and bind it with a comb binder or similar,
or (even better) get someone to do it for you. The margins are set so that the
document should print on both A4 and US letter paper without adjustment.
Printing on both sides of the paper will make the book more manageable.
Microscope images
This e-book contains many images taken using either a scanning electron
microscope (SEM) or petrographic microscope. SEM images are black-and-white
images as electrons dont have colour; petrographic microscope images are in
colour.
Microscope images have scale bars to indicate the size of features. These are
shown in microns, or micrometres (m). A micron is 10-6 metre, so there are
1,000 microns in a millimetre and 1,000,000 microns in a metre.
The microscope images do not show the magnification (eg: x1000) since this will
vary depending how the image is displayed. An image that is x100 displayed full-
screen on a 15-inch computer monitor will be x160 on a 24-inch monitor, so
indicating a fixed magnification is meaningless unless you know the size of the
original image. It is the scale bar that is important, not the magnification.
If you want to work out the magnification of an image, measure the scale bar as
displayed on your monitor, or on the page if you have printed it, and work it out.
For example, if a 1000 m (=1 mm) scale bar measures 10 mm on your monitor,
the magnification is x10. If a 100 m scale bar measures 10 mm (=10,000 m),
the magnification is 10,000/100 = x100. If a 50 m scale bar measures 20 mm,
the magnification is 20,000/50 = x400.
Glossary
You may find it helpful to download the cement glossary, available if you sign up
to the free Newsletter, from www.understanding-cement.com.
Contact details
Feedback
Comments, suggestions, bouquets, brickbats all feedback will be gratefully

received. Please do tell me what you think of Understanding Cement. Your
comments will be very useful in improving future editions of this e-book.
The best way to send feedback is to use the feedback form at:
www.understanding-cement.com/ucebookfeedback.html
E-book technical problems
If you have any technical problems with the e-book (eg: printing it out), contact
us using the Contact Form on the Understanding Cement web site and we will try
to help.
http://www.understanding-cement.com/contact.html
Consultancy
If you have any queries about the consultancy services offered by

WHD Microanalysis Consultants Ltd., I can be reached at:
ceminfo@whd.co.uk
Nick Winter
December 2009
Cover picture courtesy Castle Cement

IMPORTANT!
I hope you know this already, but the first thing anyone should know
about cement, is that it is HIGHLY ALKALINE. If you get wet cement, or
dry cement powder, on your skin you will get ALKALI BURNS. These can
be severe and in extreme cases can result in the amputation of limbs, or
even death. You should therefore avoid contact with cement by taking
appropriate precautions, including wearing suitable protective clothing
and equipment. If you do get cement on your skin, or in your eyes, wash
it off immediately and seek medical advice if necessary.
On that happy note, read on!

1 A brief history of cement
Cementing materials were used widely in the ancient world. The Egyptians used
calcined gypsum as a cement. The Greeks and Romans used lime made by
heating limestone, and then added sand to make mortar, with coarser gravel for
concrete.
This process of heating limestone so that it decomposes to lime (calcium oxide)

and carbon dioxide gas is called calcination. Before the lime is used in building,
it is normally mixed with water (slaking) to convert the calcium oxide to
calcium hydroxide.
The Romans found that a cement could be made which set under water and this
was used for the construction of harbours. The cement was made by adding
crushed volcanic ash to lime, and was later called a pozzolanic cement named
after the village of Pozzuoli near Vesuvius. Where volcanic ash was scarce,
crushed brick or tile was used instead. The Romans were therefore probably the
first to manipulate the properties of cementitious materials for specific
applications and situations.
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, a Roman architect and engineer in the 1st century BCE
wrote in his Ten books of Architecture, a revealing insight into ancient
technology (1):
There is also a kind of powder from which natural causes produces

astonishing results This substance, when mixed with lime and rubble,
not only lends strength to buildings of other kinds, but even when piers
are constructed of it in the sea, they set hard under water.
The Romans used pozzolanic material more widely than just in marine
construction. Vitruvious says:
First I shall begin with the concrete flooring, which is the most important
of the polished finishings, observing that great pains and the utmost
precaution must be taken to ensure its durability.
A brief history of cement
On this, lay the nucleus, consisting of pounded tile mixed with lime in
the proportions of three parts to one, and forming a layer not less than
six digits thick.
Vitruvious Ten books of architecture is a real historical gem bringing together

history and technology, although anyone wishing to follow his instructions might
first need to find a thousand or so slaves to dig, saw, pound and polish...
After the end of the Roman Empire, much of their building technology was lost -
certainly in Europe with regard to cement. Mortars hardened mainly by
carbonation of lime, a slow process, and it wasnt until the late Middle Ages that
the benefits of pozzolanic material mixed with lime were rediscovered. The great
European mediaeval cathedrals were clearly built by highly skilled masons but it
would probably be fair to say they did not have the technology to manipulate the
properties of cementitious materials in the way the Romans had done a thousand
years earlier.
The Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment brought new ways of thinking and
compelling new reasons to develop technology, including cement technology. For
example, maritime nations needed to build lighthouses on exposed rocks to
reduce shipping losses.
John Smeaton, the father of civil engineering in England, found that a mix of
hydraulic lime, produced by burning an impure limestone and then mixing the
lime with a natural pozzolan, produced a mortar that hardened under water (2).
Smeaton used his mortar with interlocking stone blocks in the construction of the
third Eddystone lighthouse (1759) off the coast of Cornwall in Southwestern
England. This mixture for a mortar of lime and pozzolan was specified for
government contracts until 1867, 43 years after Aspdins patent for Portland
cement.
Figure 1.1 Ardnamurchan lighthouse, Scotland, built

by Alan Stevenson and completed in 1849. The
Stevensons were a Scottish family of engineer
lighthouse builders who used similar construction
technology to Smeatons. Alan Stevenson was the uncle
of author Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote Treasure
Island and many other books.
www.whd.co.uk 2 www.understanding-cement.com
Joseph Aspdin took out a patent in 1824 for Portland Cement, a material he
produced by firing a mixture of finely-ground clay and limestone. What Aspdin
did that was different was to calcine the limestone, then mix the lime with clay
and fire it again. He called the product Portland Cement because the concrete
made from it looked like Portland stone, a widely-used building stone in England.
While Aspdin is usually regarded as the inventor of Portland cement, Aspdins

cement was not produced at a high-enough temperature to be the real
forerunner of modern Portland Cement. His son, William, found that a higher
temperature (around 1400 C) was beneficial. At this increased temperature, a
small proportion of the material melts but the bulk of it remains solid. This
process is known as sintering and it produces a material called clinker.
A ship carrying barrels of Williams cement went aground off the Isle of Sheppey
in Kent in 1848 and the barrels of set cement, minus the wooden staves, were
later incorporated into the wall of an inn in Sheerness. They are still there now
and the landlord occasionally receives requests from cement enthusiasts for small
pieces.
In 1845 Williams main competitor, Isaac Johnson, had also made an improved
cement, by firing a mixture of chalk and clay at higher temperatures (1400 C
1500 C), similar to those used today. Because both William Aspdin and Johnson
burnt at higher temperatures than had been used previously, minerals were
produced which were very reactive and more strongly cementitious.
While they both used similar materials and temperatures to make Portland
cement as we use now, three more important developments in the manufacturing
process lead to modern Portland cement:
Development of rotary kilns (Ransome, 1885; Hurry and Seaman, 1895)
Addition of gypsum to control setting
Use of ball mills to grind clinker and raw materials
A rotary kiln is a long, rotating, tube slightly tilted from the horizontal and will
described more fully in Chapter 3. Ransomes kiln did not work properly in trials
in 1887. Later, Hurry and Seaman in the USA resolved the problems and
produced the first modern rotary kiln. These gradually replaced the original
vertical shaft kilns from the early 1900s.
Rotary kilns heat the clinker mainly by radiative heat transfer and this is more
efficient at higher temperatures, enabling higher burning temperatures to be
achieved. Also, rotary kilns give a more consistent product because the clinker is
constantly moving inside the kiln; this gives a more uniform temperature in the
burning zone, the hottest part of the kiln.
The two other principal technical developments, gypsum addition to control

setting and the use of ball mills to grind the clinker, were also introduced at
around the end of the 19th century.
This brief and selective whirlwind tour of cement development sets Portland
cement in its historical context. If youre particularly interested in cement history,
the Blezard paper and his chapter in Lea referred to below, contain more
information with numerous references.
References, Chapter 1
1. Vitruvius, The Ten Books of Architecture, Dover Publications, 1960.

2. Reflections on the history of the chemistry of cement, R G Blezard, Society
of Chemical Industry, 1998.
(www.soci.org/SCI/publications/2001/pdf/pb72.pdf)
Further reading
Lea, Chapter 1, The History of Calcareous Cements, R G Blezard.

This first chapter in Lea contains a lot of information on cement history, plus 90
references.
2 Cement basics
2.1 Some definitions

There are many different types of cement used in the construction industry. By
far the most important in terms of volume is Portland cement and cement that is
based on Portland cement.
Cement may be pure Portland cement, or, alternatively, it may be made from
Portland cement mixed with other materials that also have cementitious
properties, such as blastfurnace slag from iron smelting or fly ash from coal-fired
electricity power stations.
Cements composed of mixtures of Portland cement with these other materials

can enhance concrete properties; these mixtures are widely used and are called
composite cements or blended cements; the exact terminology varies
according to local custom. Well focus initially on Portland cement and return to
composite cements later.
Pure Portland cement was the most widely used cement in most parts of the
world until recently. In some parts of the world, it still is but technical
developments as well as environmental concerns have led to the increased use of
other cements, particularly composite cements.
The meanings of the words cement and concrete are rather blurred in general
use, so lets start by defining these words more carefully, along with a few
others.
Cement basics
Portland cement Material made by heating a mixture of limestone and

clay in a kiln at about 1450 C, then grinding the
resulting clinker to a fine powder with a small addition of
gypsum.
Cement Usually taken to mean either Portland cement or, more
recently, a cement with Portland cement as one of the
main constituents but also containing other materials. It
could also mean any other type of cement, depending on
the context.
Aggregate Cobbles, pebbles, crushed rock, gravel, sand and silt
the rock component of all particle sizes in concrete.
Concrete Synthetic rock made using cement mixed with water and
aggregate.
Mortar Mixture of cement and fine aggregate, mainly sand.
Used typically to bond bricks, blocks and building stone.
Grout Mixture of cement (possibly of various types) and other
fine material such as fine sand. Used in a wide range of
applications from filling the gaps between bathroom tiles
to oil wells.
Portland cement itself can be divided into a number of different types, each
cement having different characteristics.
Normal, grey, cement for general-purpose use will be referred to in this e-book
as ordinary Portland cement. Other types of Portland cement include white
Portland cement and sulfate-resisting Portland cement, of which more later.
2.2 Some non-Portland cements

As a brief aside, there are many other types of cement that are not based on
Portland cement. However, the quantities of these other cements used are small
compared with Portland cement and composite cements based on Portland
cement; here, we will briefly mention three and then get back to the main
subject of Portland cement:
Calcium aluminate cements
Lime concrete/mortar
Expansive cements
Calcium aluminate cements (CACs)
These cements used to be called high alumina cements. They are made from
lime or limestone mixed with bauxite (aluminium ore) or other high-alumina
material heated in a furnace until the raw materials have completely melted, then
cooled and the solid material is then ground to produce cement.
Cement basics
Concrete made with CAC typically develops strength quickly and is resistant to
chemical attack. CACs have a wide range of compositions, mainly with different
ratios of lime to alumina, and they are generally brown, grey or black in colour.
One common type of CAC, Ciment Fondu, is grey but CACs can also be white if
made from pure alumina.
As well as being used in concrete, CACs are also used in grouts and other
specialised applications, often mixed with Portland cement and other materials
such as gypsum.
Lime mortar and concrete
Lime mortar and concrete was used for thousands of years until eclipsed by other
cements particularly Portland cement. Its use declined to a very low level towards
the end of the 20th century, being used mainly in the rebuilding or repair of
historic or ancient buildings. More recently, the use of lime mortar and concrete
in the construction of new buildings has increased in some countries, the UK
being an example. Although it is not as strong, there are benefits in using lime
mortar instead of a mortar based on Portland cement, in particular:
Cracks that develop in lime mortar tend to heal themselves, unlike

conventional mortar made with Portland Cement.
Lime mortar is usually weaker than mortars made with Portland cement
and so can be removed from the brick or stone at the end of the useful life
of the building. Particularly in the case of bricks, this means that they can
be recycled, saving energy otherwise needed to make new bricks. If
mortar made with Portland cement is used, bricks generally cant be re-
used as it is almost impossible to remove the mortar.
Lime is produced at a lower temperature than Portland cement, so other

things being equal, it takes less energy to produce a lime mortar
compared with a mortar made with Portland cement.
Lime mortar and concrete gain strength largely by carbonation, the

process of re-absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This
converts calcium hydroxide to calcium carbonate, removing an equivalent
amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as was released when the
limestone was calcined. (This, of course, neglects the CO2 emissions from
the fuel used to heat the lime but the CO2 reabsorbed still represents a
substantial part of the total CO2 emitted during manufacture).
Lime mortars and plasters allow a building to breathe more than if

gypsum plaster and mortar based on Portland cement is used. This results
in fewer problems with condensation.
Cement basics
Expansive cements
These are special cements designed to exert an expansive force on their

surroundings after the cement has set. (With most cements, manufacturers go
to a lot of trouble to make sure the cement is not expansive). Expansive
cements are used mainly in demolition and also in mining.
3 Portland cement composition and microstructure
Portland Cement is made by heating suitable raw materials, typically ground

limestone and clay, at a temperature of about 1450 C to produce a dark grey
nodular material called clinker. At this temperature, much of the clinker remains
solid but perhaps 20%-30% of the clinker is liquid, thinly-dispersed within the
nodules.
When cool, the clinker is ground up to a fine powder and a small amount of
gypsum is added to control the setting properties of the cement. Here are a few
familiar, and perhaps less familiar, views of cement.
Figure 3.1 Bulk cement road tankers on a Figure 3.2 Cement bagging plant.
quay. (Photo courtesy Rugby Cement.) Bagged cement is sold mainly to small
builders and the do-it-yourself market.
(Photo courtesy Rugby Cement.)
Portland cement composition and microstructure
Figure 3.3 The familiar grey powder. The Figure 3.4 Cement particles viewed in a
coin is 23mm in diameter. scanning electron microscope.
A more complete description of the cement production process follows.
3.1 Portland cement minerals

A more precise definition of Portland Cement is that it is the ground product of
Portland cement clinker, usually interground with a small amount of calcium
sulfate to bring the total sulfate content of the cement to about 2.5%-4% by
weight.
In turn, Portland cement clinker is produced from a mixture of finely-ground

calcareous and siliceous components, together with a proportion of alumina and
iron, as well as some impurities, fired in a kiln at a temperature of about 1450 C.
Clinker is composed of rounded, dark grey or grey-green nodules, ranging in size

from less than 1 mm to 30 mm or more. The clinker in Figure 3.5 is a typical
example of Portland cement clinker. It isnt always as clean or as coarse as this,
the nodules can be smaller with a lot of fine sub-millimetre dust.
Figure 3.5 Typical Portland cement clinker nodules:

these nodules are 10mm 15mm across.
Portland cement clinker contains four principal minerals, or phases:
Alite
Belite
A calcium aluminate phase
A calcium alumino-ferrite phase
A phase in cement chemistry or petrology may be defined as:
A part or parts of a system occupying a specific volume and having uniform

physical and chemical characteristics which distinguish it from all other parts
of the system. (1)
Note that system includes temperature. Cooled clinker contains four main
phases the four principal clinker minerals but in the burning zone of the kiln,
it contains mainly alite, belite, free lime and the liquid phase. (Free lime is lime
that has not yet combined to form alite or belite or other minerals).
The compositions of the four main clinker minerals in any particular cement
clinker vary a little, depending on the compositions of the raw materials. Their
compositions are often simplified by approximating them to the following pure
compounds:
Table 3.1 Mineral names and approximate compositions of the four principal
clinker minerals.
Mineral name Approximate composition Formula
Alite: tricalcium silicate (Ca3SiO5)
Belite: dicalcium silicate (Ca2SiO4)
Calcium aluminate phase: tricalcium aluminate: (Ca3Al2O6)
Calcium alumino-ferrite phase: tetracalcium aluminoferrite: (Ca4Al2Fe2O10) or
(Ca2AlFeO5)
These simplifications are useful but need to be used carefully.
3.2 Portland cement composition and cement notation

A certain amount of chemical notation is unavoidable from now on. However, it
wont be anything difficult nothing beyond second or third year at High School.
A typical analysis of a Portland cement is given below (Table 3.2).
Table 3.2 Typical analysis of a Portland cement, expressed as oxides in weight %.

SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO K2O Na2O SO3 LOI IR Total
20.7 5.7 2.5 64.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 2.7 1.5 0.5 99.5
Balance is due to minor oxides, typically P2O5, Mn2O3, TiO2, Cr2O3.
LOI=loss on ignition (due to water from traces of hydrates, carbon dioxide).
IR=insoluble residue (ie: acid-insoluble residue, mainly comprising unreacted silica or
feldspar).
3.2.1 Note on oxide analyses
Cement analyses are usually shown as oxides, eg: CaO or SiO2. This is a
standard form of analysis in physical chemistry and geology. For anyone
unfamiliar with it, the following example may help:
Consider the mineral quartz, composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2). We could

represent the analysis of quartz as in Table 3.3.
Table 3.3 Quartz composition Table 3.4 Quartz composition

shown as individual elements. shown as an oxide.
Percentage Percentage
of element of oxide
Si 46.67 SiO2 100.00
O 53.33
However, the proportion of silicon to oxygen in quartz has a fixed ratio of 2:1,
determined by the valency of silicon and oxygen. Silicon has a valency of +4 and
oxygen -2; this means that a silicon atom can share four electrons with
neighbouring atoms and oxygen can share two. Since quartz is not electrically
charged, it follows that each silicon atom will bond with two oxygen atoms:
+4 + (2 x -2) = 0
This means that it isnt necessary to show the oxygen separately; the data in
Table 3.4 gives the same information as that in Table 3.3, but in a more
convenient form.
For more information, see Reference 2 at the end of this chapter, or try a basic
chemistry textbook.
3.2.2 Cement chemistry notation
Chemical compositions of cement clinker phases are expressed as oxides and this
is convenient in many ways but can lead to rather long-winded formulae. To
simplify them, cement chemists have adopted a form of notation that seems
strange to chemists not familiar with cement.
Using cement chemistry notation, the formulae are abbreviated. Remember that
these compositions are approximate because the minerals contain impurities.
Alite: Ca3SiO5 in terms of its oxides is 3CaO.SiO2. The CaO term is

shortened to C and the SiO2 to S. In cement chemistry notation, the
compound becomes C3S.
Belite: Similarly, Ca2SiO4 is 2CaO.SiO2, which is shortened to C2S.
Tricalcium aluminate: Ca3Al2O6 is 3CaO.Al2O3. The Al2O3 term is

shortened to A and the compound becomes C3A.
Tetracalcium aluminoferrite: Ca2AlFeO5 can be written as (Ca4Al2Fe2O10)

or 4CaO.Al2O3.Fe2O3. Fe2O3 is shortened to F and the compound becomes
C4AF.
(With names like tetracalcium aluminoferrite, the need for snappier names is
all-too clear.)
In other words, for each of the clinker main minerals, we now have at least three
possible descriptions, as below:
Alite or tricalcium silicate or C3S
Belite, or dicalcium silicate or C2S
Tricalcium aluminate (or the aluminate phase) or C3A
Calcium alumino-ferrite (or the ferrite phase) or tetracalcium

aluminoferrite or C4AF
There are also the full chemical formulae for the pure compounds, eg: C3S or
Ca3SiO5.
Although strictly, these do not mean the same thing, they are frequently used
indiscriminately. This lax use means that names like C3A should not usually be
taken to signify a definite composition in the sense of a pure compound, unless
this is indicated by the context.
To take another example, strictly speaking tricalcium silicate is a pure compound,

while alite is a mineral composed largely of tricalcium silicate but also with a
significant quantity of impurities, mainly magnesium, iron and aluminium.
All the oxides commonly found in cement are abbreviated as follows:
Table 3.5 Cement chemistry notation for the principal

oxides in Portland cement clinker.
C=CaO T=TiO2
S=SiO2 H=H2O
A=Al2O3
F=Fe2O3 and
K=K2O _
N=Na2O S=SO3
M=MgO _
P=P2O5 C=CO2
_ _
S and C are spoken as S-bar and C-bar respectively, but are less used now
than they once were. (Probably, they are a victim of technology - fine when notes
were hand-written or typed on a typewriter, but just too complicated to do on a
word-processor. Have a try and see why it isnt used so much these days!)
People unfamiliar with cement notation sometimes have trouble adjusting to the
notion of S representing SiO2, for example, but do stick with it it is usually a
great time saver and it does work.
3.3 Microstructure of clinker and cement

Consider an individual nodule of cement clinker (Figure 3.6). If we take that
nodule, or pieces of it, we can make a polished section (Figure 3.7) and view the
individual minerals in the nodule using a microscope.
Figure 3.6 Single clinker nodule and a Figure 3.7 Polished section containing
coin, 23mm in diameter, for scale. pieces of clinker nodules. Section diameter
is 30 mm.
The polished section could be examined using either an optical microscope or a

scanning electron microscope (SEM); the techniques for preparing polished
sections are broadly the same for either.
Clinker nodules are porous and it is desirable to fill these pores with epoxy resin;
nodules are embedded in the resin using vacuum impregnation to force the resin
into as many small pores as possible. In Figure 3.7 the nodules have been
separated into different size fractions by sieving and the fragments held in place
during specimen preparation by card divisions, which remain visible.
When the epoxy resin had set, the hardened resin block was sawn to reveal the
nodules in section, then polished using diamond polishing compound in
successively finer grades.
For examination using an optical microscope, various etches liquids that react
with the surfaces of the crystals - may be used to highlight particular minerals.
Etches are not normally used for SEM examination.
Clinker appears quite different when examined using a petrographic microscope

compared with when using a scanning electron microscope. The obvious main
difference is that the petrographic microscope image is a colour image while the
SEM image is black-and-white. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Examples of a petrographic microscope image of clinker and an SEM image are
shown below.
Figure 3.8 Polished section of Portland Figure 3.9 Polished section of Portland
cement clinker, examined in reflected light cement clinker, backscattered SEM image.
using a petrographic microscope, showing Alite (a) and belite (b) can be clearly
crystals of individual minerals. Brown distinguished, alite being light grey and
crystals are alite and blue crystals are belite darker grey examples arrowed.
belite. The bright material between the Black areas are epoxy resin. Small bright,
alite and belite is a mixture of aluminate nearly white, crystals are ferrite and tiny
and ferrite. Grey areas are pores filled darker crystals close to the ferrite are
with epoxy resin. The colours are the mainly aluminate phase, but these are
product of etching; the section was etched hard to distinguish at this magnification.
with hydrofluoric acid vapour in order to SEM images are always black and white,
distinguish between the different unless they have had false colours added.
minerals. Belite is not actually blue and This is a different clinker to that in Figure
alite is not brown. 3.8 but the magnification is similar.
Alite crystals are elongated, typically 20 m-60 m in length and hexagonal in

shape, as can be seen in Figures 3.8 and 3.9. Belite crystals are generally
rounded in shape and 10 m-30 m across. In both images, since the crystals
are randomly orientated, many of them will not appear in polished sections
showing their full length.
Some nodules are highly porous and others much denser. The small nodule in
Figure 3.10 is of fairly typical density. In this low-magnification view of most of a
nodule, alite is the mid-grey mineral comprising the bulk of the nodule. The
darker patches are belite clusters.
Figure 3.10 SEM image of polished section

of a whole small nodule, approximately 2mm
across. The pores in the nodule structure are
the black areas which are filled with epoxy
resin. In this clinker, most of the belite occurs
in large clusters (arrowed, dark grey); ideally,
the belite would be distributed more
uniformly. The uneven distribution suggests
that some of the siliceous particles in the raw
feed were too coarse. Despite relict structures
of coarse raw feed particles, this nodule is
well-combined with no free lime visible.
Ferrite and aluminate phase vary in appearance from one clinker to another and
within the same clinker. Sometimes ferrite and aluminate crystals are small and
intergrown but they can also be coarse separate blocky crystals (Figure 3.11).
Figure 3.11 SEM image of polished section,

showing coarse blocky aluminate (dark grey,
examples shown by white arrows) and ferrite
(bright, examples shown by black arrows).
Most of the material in this image is alite,
with a small elongated belite cluster towards
the centre. Again, black areas are pores in
the clinker filled with epoxy resin used in
specimen preparation.
When the clinker is ground up to produce cement, it is obvious that much of the
microstructure of the nodules is lost (Figure 3.12).
Figure 3.12 SEM image of polished section

of cement particles set in epoxy resin. The
four main clinker minerals are visible
(aluminate only just visible). Much
information that would be visible in a clinker
nodule is lost on grinding, such as alite crystal
sizes, belite cluster sizes and nodule porosity.
3.4 Hydraulic properties of the main clinker minerals
Alite (C3S)
Alite is very reactive in the presence of water. It is the main constituent of
Portland cement, typically between 45% and 70% of the clinker by weight. It is
the main strength-giving component of cement and is thus strongly hydraulic.
Belite (C2S)
Belite is reactive and hydraulic, but less so than alite. The proportion of belite in
clinker typically varies between 5% and 30%.
Aluminate (C3A)
The aluminate phase is the most reactive constituent of clinker. However, it is
not a major contributor to strength in Portland cement, in other words it is only
very weakly hydraulic. Although only weakly hydraulic, because it is very reactive
it has a strong influence on early setting properties of cement and it produces a
lot of heat. In order to control this reactivity, gypsum is added to cement to
control the aluminate phase hydration.
Ferrite (C4AF)
Ferrite phase is moderately reactive, but only weakly hydraulic. It reacts quickly
initially when mixed with water but the rate of reaction slows and unhydrated
ferrite can be found in concrete over a hundred years old. Ferrite is black and
gives cement its characteristic grey colour.
Aluminate and ferrite are often referred to as flux phases.
Why are aluminate and ferrite present in cement?
If alite and belite are the main hydraulic minerals in cement, the minerals that
give strength to concrete, what do the aluminate and ferrite phases do? Why not
just make cement containing alite and belite?
The short answer is that it would be very difficult to make cement that did not
contain at least some aluminate or ferrite. Well be looking at the reactions in
the cement kiln later, but broadly cement-making is a clinkering (sintering)
process. This means not all the material in the kiln melts at the hottest part of
the kiln, the burning zone, about three-quarters of the clinker remains solid and
only a quarter is liquid.
Remember that what we are trying to do in the kiln is make calcium silicates,
particularly alite. The solid material entering the burning zone of the kiln is,
roughly speaking, belite and free lime that we want to combine to make alite.
The liquid is mainly composed of oxides of calcium, iron and aluminium; when
cooled, this liquid crystallises into the aluminate and ferrite phases.
The rle of the liquid is to accelerate the reactions in the clinker. Ions are
transferred through the liquid much more easily than through a solid. All other
things being equal, the higher the proportion of liquid, the easier it is to combine
the belite and free lime to make alite. In cement-making terminology, the liquid
is also called the flux.
The liquid from which aluminate and ferrite crystallise is therefore critical to the
process of making cement. Without the liquid, ion transfer would be much
slower; belite and free lime would not combine adequately. The liquid is essential
and the aluminate and ferrite form from the liquid is it cools, even though they
do not contribute greatly to the strength of concrete.
3.5 Proportions of the main clinker phases

As well see, the proportions of each of the main minerals (that is, the quantity of
alite, belite, etc.) are of major importance in determining the properties of the
cement produced from the clinker. The term phase composition is often used
it means the proportions of the clinker minerals in a cement or clinker.
The actual phase composition is dependent on:
The quantities of each of the main oxides (CaO, SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3) in
the raw materials.
The extent to which they have combined to form the main clinker phases.
The compositions of the phases (including impurities).
The actual phase composition is not easy to calculate without additional

information, in particular, the true compositions of the minerals. (These can be
determined by SEM and X-ray microanalysis.)
The potential phase composition simplifies things by ignoring the extent to

which the oxides have actually combined. It means: these are the mineral
proportions you would expect if everything were to combine and all the chemical
reactions reached equilibrium as the clinker cooled.
3.5.1 The Bogue calculation
The Bogue calculation is a very useful method of calculating the approximate

quantities of the four main clinker minerals in a clinker or cement. In essence, it
is a calculation of the potential phase composition based on some simplifying
assumptions.
If we know the composition of the clinker from its oxide analysis, and if we also
know the compositions of the four main clinker minerals, we can calculate how
much of each mineral is present.
The Bogue calculation can be used in two slightly different ways:
It can be used prescriptively a good example is the ASTM C-150

standard for Portland cement, in which the Bogue calculation is used to
specify limits for the proportions of the different clinker minerals in
different types of cement.
It can be used for troubleshooting; as an example, suppose you had two

cements that were nominally similar but one gave better strengths than
the other and you wanted to know why. A good starting point would be to
use the Bogue calculation to calculate the proportions of clinker minerals
in either the cement or the clinker from which the cement was made.
The calculation used will vary slightly, depending whether you are applying it to
cement or to clinker, and on what you are trying to achieve:
To apply the calculation to cement, you need to take into account any
material that was added to the clinker, such as gypsum and fine
limestone.
To use the calculation to compare the phase proportions of two particular

cements or clinkers, you would want to correct for uncombined lime (free
lime).
The following version of the Bogue calculation is applied to clinker and corrects
for free lime; it does not allow for added gypsum or fine limestone and so should
not be used for cement in this form. Well look at applying the calculation to
cement later (Chapter 5.9).
The calculation assumes that the four main clinker minerals have the actual
compositions given by:
Alite, C3S, or tricalcium silicate
Belite, C2S, or dicalcium silicate
Aluminate phase, C3A, or tricalcium aluminate
Ferrite phase, C4AF, or tetracalcium aluminoferrite
(At the risk of becoming repetitive, these are only approximations of the true
compositions of the minerals.)
To make clinker, we are combining lime and silica and also lime with alumina and
iron. If some of the lime remains uncombined, we need to subtract this from the
total lime content before we do the calculation, or we will overestimate the actual
alite content. For this reason, a clinker analysis normally gives a figure for free
lime.
The calculation is simple in principle:
Firstly, according to the assumed mineral compositions, ferrite phase

(C4AF) is the only mineral to contain iron. The iron content of the clinker
therefore fixes the ferrite content.
Secondly, the aluminate content is fixed by the total alumina content of

the clinker, minus the alumina in the ferrite phase. We can now calculate
this, since we have a figure for the amount of ferrite.
Thirdly, we assume all the silica is present as belite and calculate how
much lime is needed to form belite from the total silica content of the
clinker. There will be a surplus of lime.
Fourthly, we allocate the lime surplus to the belite, converting some of it

to alite.
In practice, the above process of allocating the oxides can be reduced to the
following equations:
C3S = 4.0710CaO-7.6024SiO2-1.4297Fe2O3-6.7187Al2O3
C2S = 8.6024SiO2+1.0785Fe2O3+5.0683Al2O3-3.0710CaO
C3A = 2.6504Al2O3-1.6920Fe2O3
C4AF = 3.0432Fe2O3
Heres a worked example. First, we need a clinker analysis (Table 3.6).
Table 3.6 An example of a typical clinker analysis (note that the analysis in Table 3.2
was of a cement, not a clinker).
21.5 5.2 2.8 66.6 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.0 1.5 0.5 98.9
Free lime = 1.0% CaO
Example of a Bogue calculation using the clinker data in Table 3.6:
Combined CaO = (Total CaO Free CaO) = (66.6% - 1.0%) = 65.6% This is the
figure we use for CaO in the calculation.
So, for the four oxides we have:
CaO=65.6%; SiO2=21.5%; Al2O3=5.2% and Fe2O3=2.8%
The Bogue calculation is:
C3S = 4.0710CaO-7.6024SiO2-1.4297Fe2O3-6.7187Al2O3
C2S = 8.6024SiO2+1.1Fe2O3+5.0683Al2O3-3.0710CaO
C3A = 2.6504Al2O3-1.6920Fe2O3
C4AF = 3.0432Fe2O3
Therefore:
C3S = (4.0710 x 65.6)-(7.6024 x 21.5)-(1.4297 x 2.8)-(6.718 x 5.2)

C2S = (8.6024 x 21.5)+(1.0785 x 2.8)+(5.0683 x 5.2)-(3.0710 x 65.6)
C3A = (2.6504 x 5.2)-(1.6920 x 2.8)
C4AF = 3.0432 x 2.8
So:
C3S = 64.7%
C2S = 12.9%
C3A = 9.0%
C4AF = 8.5%
Total = 95.1%
To the total, we can add the 1% free lime we deducted at the start to give
96.1%; note that the total still does not add up to 100%. This is because the
calculation neglects impurities in the four clinker minerals, and because of other
minor constituents in the clinker not accounted for, such as clinker sulfate and,
possibly, periclase (MgO).
It should be stressed that the Bogue calculation does not give the exact amounts
of the four main clinker phases present, although this is sometimes forgotten.
These differ from the true amounts mainly because the actual mineral
compositions differ a little (occasionally more than a little) from those assumed in
the calculation, as shown in Table 3.7.
Table 3.7 Comparison of clinker mineral compositions assumed by the standard Bogue
calculation, with typical compositions.
SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO K2O Na2O SO3 Total
Bogue C3S 26.3 0.0 0.0 73.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100
Bogue C2S 34.9 0.0 0.0 65.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100
Bogue C3A 0.0 37.7 0.0 62.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100
Bogue C4AF 0.0 21.0 32.9 46.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100
Typical
25.2 1.0 0.7 71.6 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 99.9*
Alite
Typical
31.5 2.1 0.9 63.5 0.5 0.9 0.1 0.2 99.7*
Belite
Typical
3.7 31.3 5.1 56.6 1.4 0.7 1.0 0.0 99.8*
Aluminate
Typical
3.6 21.9 21.4 47.5 3.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 97.7*
Ferrite
*Balance is mainly P2O5, Mn2O3, TiO2, Cr2O3
Typical mineral compositions are from Reference 3 at the end of this chapter.
It is clear from Table 3.7 that there are appreciable differences between the
compositions assumed by the Bogue calculation and those typical of minerals in
cement clinker. For example, alite and belite both contain aluminium and iron,
and the aluminate phase (C3A) is not strictly tricalcium aluminate as it contains
some iron and silicon.
That said, the Bogue calculation gives a useful approximation and is widely used
within the cement industry. It provides a standardised format for estimating the
clinker mineral proportions and the approximations made are not normally
important.
Of much greater interest are relative changes over time in the indicated mineral
content rather than the absolute values. If concrete early strengths suddenly
drop and if alite content as calculated using the Bogue calculation also shows a
drop, the lower strength may well be due to the lower alite content.
The calculation can be expressed in other ways, of which perhaps the most useful
is as a set of four simultaneous equations. In the following, (A)= alite;
(B)=belite; (Al)=aluminate; (F)=ferrite and (bulk) refers to the oxide
composition of the clinker.
S(A) + S(B) + S(Al) + S(F) = S(bulk)

A(A) + A(B) + A(Al) + A(F) = A(bulk)
F(A) + F(B) + F(Al) + F(F) = F(bulk)
C(A) + C(B) + C(Al) + C(F) = C(bulk)
For convenience, these equations can be solved using a spreadsheet by the

method of inversion of matrices. If the true mineral compositions, as distinct
from the assumed ideal compositions, are known (eg: from SEM/X-ray
microanalysis) the actual phase proportions can be calculated more accurately.
Note that C(bulk) should have the free lime subtracted before the calculation for the
best estimate of the alite content.
Similar calculations can be performed for cement, provided that gypsum and any
other added material, such as fine limestone, is taken into account (see Chapter
5.9).
Free lime: to subtract or not to subtract
In the above calculation, we subtracted the free lime from the total CaO content
in order to obtain the best estimate of the alite content. However, as mentioned
above, if used prescriptively in a standard specification the form of the calculation
specified may not require free lime to be deducted.
In the ASTM standard for Portland cement, ASTM C150-07, the free lime content
is not deducted from the total lime in calculating the phase composition; it isnt
even mentioned. This is because the objective of the calculation is different. The
specification defines limits to the phase composition of certain cement types to
ensure that the cements are suitable for specific purposes. Differences in free
lime content in individual cements are not an issue and would be an unnecessary
complication.
In summary, the form of calculation to use depends on the context. If the

calculation relates to a standard specification, you would obviously use the
calculation given in that specification. If you are a cement producer trying to
work out why one clinker is making better cement than another, you would want
the best estimate of the alite content; that would mean deducting the free lime
from the total CaO first.
Free lime is lost alite
To see how alite content and free lime content are related, look at the effect of
free lime on the mineral content of a typical clinker, as shown by the Bogue
calculation (Table 3.8).
Table 3.8 Effect of uncombined lime on alite and belite contents.

21.5 5.2 2.8 66.6 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.0 1.5 0.5 98.9
LSF=97.6; SR=2.69; AR=1.86 (see Chapter 3.6).
LOI=Loss on ignition (weight loss when heated to approx. 1000 C), due to small
amounts of carbon dioxide or water)
IR=Insoluble residue - insoluble material which has not combined, usually silica or
feldspar.
Clinker A Clinker B Clinker C
0% Free CaO 1% Free CaO 2% Free CaO
Alite 68.7 Alite 64.7 Alite 60.6
Belite 9.8 Belite 12.9 Belite 15.9
Aluminate 9.0 Aluminate 9.0 Aluminate 9.0
Ferrite 8.5 Ferrite 8.5 Ferrite 8.5
Total 96.1 Total 95.1 Total 94.1
Applying the Bogue calculation gives an alite content of about 69% if no free lime
is assumed to be present (Clinker A) but only about 61% if 2% free lime is
assumed (Clinker C). This illustrates why a full clinker analysis should also show
the free lime content if the purpose of the analysis is to indicate the actual phase
proportions of the clinker.
Cements made from Clinkers A, B and C in Table 3.8 would probably perform
differently. If early strengths were dependent solely on alite content, Clinker A
with the highest alite content should give the best early strengths (from about 1
day to 7 days). With 2% free lime (Clinker C) the lower alite content should
result in the lowest early strengths. At later ages, the higher belite content of
Clinker C would start to partly close the gap with Clinker A, although this may
take several weeks or months.
However, the mineral proportions are not the only factors controlling the
performance of a cement, although they are very important. For example, as
mentioned previously a hard-burned clinker may contain calcium silicates which
are less reactive than those in a clinker burned with a lighter touch.
In other words, Clinker A with little or no free lime, was likely to have been very
hard-burned in order to get all the lime to combine. Clinker C would be much
lighter-burned (all other things being equal) and Clinker B somewhere in-
between. Clinker B might well have the best compromise between alite content
and silicate reactivity and cement made from it may out-perform cements made
from Clinkers A and C in terms of both early and late strengths.
Comparing Figure 3.10, a normally-burned clinker nodule, with the underburned

nodule in Figure 3.13, the underburned nodule is clearly more porous and of
lower density. Harder burning would cause the nodule to coalesce. Nodule
density is therefore, very approximately, a measure of how hard the clinker was
burned.
Indeed, the litre weight (weight of a known volume, ie: density - more strictly
the bulk density) of a clinker is often used as a rough measure of burning.
Usually, the clinker sample for calculating the litre weight has been sieved, so
that the nodule sizes are within defined upper and lower limits.
Figure 3.13a This clinker nodule is Figure 3.13b Detail of Figure 3.13a,
underburned; it was not at burning showing free lime (FL), alite (a) and
temperature for a sufficient time for adequate belite b). Harder burning would have
combination to take place. This image shows resulted in a densification of the
much belite (dark grey) in large, arcuate, microstructure and enabled more lime to
clusters. Some alite is present (light grey) combine with belite to produce more alite.
and much free lime (FL - white). This nodule
has an open, porous, structure and contains
more belite than alite. Compare with the well-
combined nodule in Figures 3.10-3.11 shown
at a similar magnification.
3.6 Common parameters used in cement manufacturing

Cement clinker is frequently characterised in terms of three compositional
parameters, based on the bulk oxide analysis of the clinker. The three
parameters are:
Lime Saturation Factor (LSF)
Silica Ratio (SR, or S/R)
Alumina Ratio (AR)
Lime Saturation Factor
The LSF is a ratio of CaO to the other three main oxides. Applied to clinker, it is
calculated as:
LSF=CaO/(2.8SiO2 + 1.2Al2O3 + 0.65Fe2O3)
Often, the LSF is referred to as a percentage, and therefore multiplied by 100.
The LSF controls the ratio of alite to belite in the clinker. A clinker with a higher
LSF will have a higher proportion of alite to belite than will a clinker with a low
LSF.
LSF values in clinkers typically range between 92%-99%.
Values above 1.0 (100%) indicate that free lime is likely to be present in the
clinker. This is because, in principle, at LSF=1.0 all the free lime should have
combined with belite to form alite. If the LSF is higher than 1.0, there will be
excess lime that has nothing with which to combine.
In practice, there are always regions within the clinker where the LSF is locally a
little above, or a little below, the average for the clinker as a whole. This is partly
due to imperfect mixing and partly to particle size; a large particle will cause the
composition locally to deviate from the average composition. This means that
there is almost always some residual free lime, even where the LSF is
considerably below 1.0. It also means that to convert all the belite to alite, an
LSF slightly above 1.0 is needed; there will inevitably be free lime remaining.
Silica Ratio (SR)
The silica ratio is defined as:
SR = SiO2/(Al2O3 + Fe2O3)
A high silica ratio means that more calcium silicates are present in the clinker and
less aluminate and ferrite. SR is typically between 2.0 and 3.0.
The silica ratio is also called the silica modulus.
Alumina Ratio (AR)
The alumina ratio is defined as:
AR=(Al2O3/(Fe2O3)
This determines the potential relative proportions of aluminate and ferrite phase
in the clinker.
An increase in clinker AR (also sometimes written as A/F) means there will be

proportionally more aluminate and less ferrite in the clinker. In ordinary Portland
cement clinker, the AR is usually between 1 and 3.
Whats the best clinker composition?
A simple question, you may think, but there isnt a simple answer. It depends on
the requirements of the concrete to be made from the cement. For example, if
high early strengths were required, we would need:
A high SR this means a high proportion of the clinker will be in

the form of calcium silicates.
A high LSF this means the bulk of the calcium silicates will be in
the form of alite.
But, there is a down side to this
Reactions in the kiln are harder to achieve with high LSF and SR mixes - they are
more difficult to burn, or to combine. This results in higher costs, and also in
increased CO2 emissions due to the higher CaO content of the cement and an
increased fuel requirement.
To take another example, if we wanted a Portland cement with a low heat of

hydration (perhaps for use in large concrete pours) we should limit the alite and
also the aluminate, as these minerals give the strongest exothermic reactions on
hydration. We would be looking for a cement containing a lot of belite and not too
much aluminate; this would be given by a clinker of low LSF and low-medium AR.
(In practice, in many parts of the world, a concrete mix containing Portland
cement with a high proportion of slag or fly ash would probably be used rather
than a mix with Portland cement only. We will be discussing slag and fly ash in
Chapter 7.)
3.7 Other Portland cement types

We have just considered very brief examples of how changing the clinker
composition can change the characteristics of the cement made from that clinker.
The majority of Portland cement produced is general purpose cement, but other
types of Portland cement are manufactured in some countries for specific
applications. Broadly, these are:
Sulfate-resisting Portland cement
White Portland cement
Rapid-hardening Portland cement
Low heat of hydration Portland cement
These different Portland cement variations are treated differently by the various
national standards; ASTM C 150 lists five different types of Portland cement, plus
three air-entrained sub-types, not all of which have equivalents in other
standards. Chapter 10 has more on standard specifications.
Sulfate-resisting cement (Type V cement in the ASTM C 150 specification) is used

where concrete may be exposed to high levels of sulfate in solution. An example
might be use in foundations where the groundwater is unusually high in sulfates.
Reactions between hydration products of the aluminate phase and sufficient

sulfate cause expansive reactions within the concrete a condition known as
sulfate attack.
Concrete made with sulfate-resisting cement remains sounder for longer in more
extreme conditions of exposure to sulfate solution compared with ordinary
Portland cement. It can do this because it contains a minimal amount of
aluminate phase. There are several different forms of sulfate attack and these
will be considered later (Chapter 9.2).
So, how can we make cement that contains less aluminate phase?
In theory, we could have less flux overall by increasing the silica ratio.
We could make ferrite phase as a high a proportion of the flux as possible,

by lowering the alumina ratio.
In practice, if we increase the silica ratio too much, there will be insufficient liquid
at the burning temperature and good combination will be more difficult to
achieve, so this isnt a good option.
If we cant have much (or any) aluminate phase in the clinker, we will need to
lower the alumina ratio. This may mean that harder burning is necessary to
achieve combination (well see why in Chapter 5.3) but we can offset this by
having more liquid.
In other words, we can make sulfate-resisting cement by adjusting the silica ratio
downwards, as well as the alumina ratio. This means more liquid is formed
overall, but almost all of it will crystallise as ferrite. We cant take alumina out of
the raw materials, but we can add iron.
The ferrite that crystallises from the liquid in sulfate-resisting cement is more
iron-rich than the ferrite in ordinary Portland cement. Because of this, the normal
assumption made by the Bogue calculation that ferrite has the composition C4AF
is even more wrong than it is for normal clinker. ASTM C150 provides an
alternative calculation for use with Type V (sulfate-resisting) cement.
Composite cements, containing ordinary Portland cement and granulated
blastfurnace slag (gbs), or ordinary Portland cement and fly ash also provide
good resistance to sulfate solutions. These composite cements are increasingly
used to make sulfate-resisting concrete. In Europe, composite cements have
largely taken over from sulfate-resisting cement where sulfate resistance is
required; in the UK, for example, the demise of sulfate-resisting Portland cement
is almost complete, as it is no longer produced.
White Portland Cement
White Portland Cement is used for architectural purposes where a white concrete
finish is wanted. It is not treated as a separate type of cement in national
standards but is produced to meet the same criteria as normal grey cement.
Normal cement contains ferrite phase. Ferrite is dark grey or black, giving
cement its characteristic grey colour. So, to make white cement, we need to
make cement that contains little or no ferrite phase.
The principal element that gives the dark colour to ferrite is iron, at least in terms
of quantity. Other elements, particularly chromium and manganese are also
strong colorants. Titanium, copper and vanadium are also potential sources of
colour. In other words, we want as little of these elements as possible in the
clinker, achieved by careful selection of raw materials. Magnesium may also affect
colour.
Typical raw materials used for making white cement are pure limestone, such as
chalk, china clay and silica sand.
Of course, there is still likely to be a little iron, and other undesirable elements,
present in the raw materials. To prevent this from forming ferrite, white clinker
is usually burnt under slightly reducing conditions, converting Fe(III) to Fe(II).
Fe(II) substitutes for calcium and then resides in the clinker minerals, thus
avoiding ferrite formation and discolouration. The Bogue calculation will
overestimate the true ferrite content of a white clinker, as it assumes that all iron
is present in ferrite. White cement clinker is commonly water-quenched; the
rapid temperature decrease helps to prevent Fe(II) oxidising to Fe(III).
Rapid-hardening Portland cement
Rapid-hardening Portland cement (Type III cement in the ASTM C 150

specification) is basically ordinary Portland cement that has been ground more
finely so that it reacts more quickly with water. It is used where fast strength
growth is required (eg: precast concrete products) or special applications such as
sprayed concrete.
As well as being more finely ground, the cement also may have a higher alite
content than typical ordinary Portland cement.
Typically, rapid-hardening cement at 3 days has a similar strength to ordinary

Portland cement at 7 days. Since it reacts more quickly than ordinary Portland
cement, it is unsuitable for use in large pours as the heat evolution may be too
rapid.
1. Chemical Fundamentals of Geology, Robin Gill, pub. Chapman and Hall,

1996.
2. http://www.understanding-cement.com/basic-chemistry.html
3. Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, Thomas Telford, 2nd ed. 1997, Table
1.2.
4 Portland cement manufacturing - the main
components of a cement plant
4.1 The quarry

Well follow a logical path looking at the main pieces of equipment at a cement
plant as the raw materials go from the quarry to the kiln and then to the cement
mill.
The main basic components of a cement works are:
Quarry Crushers and Silos for raw Kiln Clinker Cement

(raw materials) Mills for raw material store mill
material blending
If you happen to be a geologist, the quarry is probably the most interesting part
of a cement works (although the kiln might be if you view the clinkering process
as igneous rocks in the making).
Figure 4.1 Limestone quarry. (Picture courtesy Figure 4.2 Limestone blocks being
Castle Cement.) removed for crushing after blasting.
(Picture courtesy Castle Cement.)
Typical rock types used in cement production are:

Portland cement manufacturing - the main components of a cement plant
Limestone (supplies the bulk of the lime)
Clay, marl or shale (supplies the bulk of the silica, alumina and ferric
oxide)
Other supplementary materials such as sand, fly ash or ironstone to

achieve the desired bulk composition
Quarry management is a complex process; most quarries will have good

material from which cement can easily be made, but they will also have less-
good material, possibly of harder material, or of less convenient composition.
If the good stuff is all used up first, it may be difficult to make cement out of
what is left. Detailed forward planning is needed to make the best use of all the
materials available.
Raw materials are extracted from the quarry, then crushed and milled as
necessary to provide a fine material for blending in the required proportions.
They may also need to be dried. The raw materials may be milled together or
separately, depending on how hard they are and whether additional mills are
available.
The fineness of the material is usually expressed in terms of the percentage

retained on a 90m sieve, typically between 5% and 15%.
The blended raw material, the raw meal, is stored in a silo before being fed to the
kiln. The silo provides a stock of raw meal, enabling production to be maintained
for a day or two in the event of failure of equipment or in the supply of materials.
4.2 The cement kiln

Rotary kilns were first developed in the 1890s, and became widespread in the
early part of the 20th century. They were a great improvement on the earlier shaft
kilns, giving continuous production and a more uniform product in larger
quantities.
Figure 4.3 A dry-process kiln, showing the

raw meal silo (A), the pre-heater tower (B)
and the kiln (C ). (Picture courtesy Castle
Cement.)
In a modern works, the blended raw material passes from the silo (A in Figure
4.3) to the preheater tower (B) and then to the kiln (C). In the preheater tower,
hot gases from the kiln, and often the cooled clinker at the far end of the kiln,
are used to heat the raw meal. As a result, the raw meal is already hot before it
enters the kiln.
Well look first at the general principle of the rotary kiln (Figure 4.4). Ignore the
whimsical wheelbarrow not standard equipment in a modern kiln.
A rotary kiln is basically a long cylinder rotating about its axis about 1-3 times a
minute. At one end of the kiln is a flame. The kiln is inclined at a slight angle,
the end with the flame being lower. The rotation of the kiln causes the raw meal
to gradually pass along the kiln from where it enters at the cool end, to the hot
end where it eventually drops out as clinker and cools.
Figure 4.4 General principle of a rotary kiln.
Wet process kilns
The original rotary cement kilns were called wet process kilns and in their basic
form, they were relatively simple compared with new modern kilns. The raw
meal was fed into the kiln at ambient temperature in the form of a slurry.
A wet process kiln may be up to 200 m long and 6 m in diameter. It has to be

long because a lot of water has to be evaporated and the process of heat transfer
in a wet process kiln is not very efficient.
Clearly, slurry contains water that has to be evaporated, perhaps 35% or more of
the total feed. This takes a lot of energy and various developments of the wet
process were aimed at reducing the water content of the raw meal. An example
of this is the filter press. Imagine a musical accordion 10-20 metres long and
several metres across and youll get the concept. Such adaptions were described
as semi-wet.
Figure 4.5 Basic principle of a wet-process kiln. The raw

meal is fed into the kiln unheated (eg: at 20 C) as slurry.
All the drying and heating takes place in the kiln.
The wet process has survived for over a century because many raw materials are
suited for blending as slurry. Also, for many years, it was technically difficult to
get dry powders to blend adequately.
Quite a few wet process kilns are still in operation, usually now with higher-tech
bits bolted on. However, most new cement kilns are of the dry process type and
we will focus on these.
Dry process kilns
A dry process kiln is much more thermally efficient than a wet process kiln.
Firstly, and most obviously, this is because the meal is a dry (or nearly dry)
powder and so there is no water that has to be evaporated.
Secondly, and less obviously, the process of transferring heat is much more
efficient in a dry process kiln.
Figure 4.6 Basic principle of a dry process kiln with

precalciner. This type of kiln has two burners. The raw meal
is a fine powder and is more-or-less dry. It is heated by hot
gases from the first burner, or precalciner. Also (not shown in
the diagram) the meal is heated by hot gases from both the
kiln and the clinker cooler before passing into the kiln at a
temperature of 900 C 1000 C.
The basic dry process system consists of the kiln and a suspension preheater.
The suspension preheater is a heat exchanger housed in a tall tower, consisting
of a series of cyclones in which fast-moving hot gases from the kiln keep the
meal powder suspended in air. All the time, the meal gets hotter and the gas gets
cooler until the meal is at almost the same temperature as the gas. The high
open structure made of steel girders (B) in Figure 4.3 is a preheater tower
containing the cyclones.
The raw meal is fed in at the top of the preheater tower and passes through the
series of cyclones in the tower before entering the kiln. Hot gas from the kiln
and, often, hot air from the clinker cooler are blown through the cyclones. Heat
is transferred efficiently from the hot gases to the raw meal.
The heating process is efficient because the meal particles have a very high
surface area in relation to their size and because of the large difference in
temperature between the hot gas and the cooler meal. Typically, 30%-40% of
the meal is decarbonated before entering the kiln.
A development of this process is the precalciner kiln (Figure 4.7). Most new
cement kilns are of this type. The principle is similar to that of the dry process
preheater kiln but with the addition of another burner, called the precalciner. This
is placed in the preheater tower, either as a separate unit or within the riser
duct, conveying kiln gas from the kiln to the last preheater cyclone. The meal,
which is already hot, reaches about 900 C in a few seconds and about 85%-95%
of the meal is decarbonated before it enters the kiln.
Figure 4.7 Basic diagram of a dry process kiln with a

suspension preheater showing three cyclones and a
precalciner (P).
In practice, a preheater tower is likely to have four to six stages; only three are
shown in Figure 4.7 for simplicity. Some preheater designs are much more
complex but all share the principle of maintaining the feed particles in suspension
in a flow of hot gases, while transferring heat from the gases to the feed.
Optimising the efficiency of this process will entail some elegant mathematics and
applied physics to determine airflows and the best shape for the ducting. In a
preheater tower, just small parts of the total system are visible at each floor
level; only in drawings can they be seen in their entirety and their graceful form
appreciated.
Since meal enters the kiln at about 900 C, rather than 20 C in a wet process
kiln, a dry process kiln can be shorter and of smaller diameter for the same
output. This reduces the capital costs of a new cement plant. A dry process kiln
might be only 70 m long and 6 m wide but produce a similar quantity of clinker
(usually measured in tonnes per day) as a wet process kiln of the same diameter
but 200m in length.
At A in Figure 4.7, most of the meal is decarbonated and the feed enters the kiln
at about 950 C. At B the feed has reached about 1100 C 1200 C and
consists largely of belite, free lime and intermediate minerals. At C, the burning
zone, the feed temperature reaches 1400 C 1500 C; clinker nodules form and
most of the remaining free lime reacts with belite to form alite. The next chapter
will go into this in more detail.
The kiln is made of a steel casing lined with refractory bricks. There are many
different types of refractory brick and they have to withstand not only the high
temperatures in the kiln but reactions with the meal and gases in the kiln,
abrasion and mechanical stresses induced by deformation of the kiln shell as it
rotates.
Figure 4.8 View inside a kiln, showing

the burner pipe and flame. (Picture
courtesy Rugby Cement.)
Bricks in the burning zone are in a more aggressive environment compared with
those at the cooler end of the kiln (the back end), so different parts of the kiln
are lined with different types of brick.
Periodically, the brick lining, or part of it, has to be replaced. Refractory life is
reduced by severe changes in temperature, such as occur if the kiln has to be
stopped suddenly. As the cost of refractories is a major expense in operating a
cement plant, kiln stoppages are avoided as far as possible.
As the meal passes through the burning zone, it reaches clinkering temperatures
of about 1400 C 1500 C. Clinker nodules form as the burning zone is
approached; when the clinker has passed the burning zone, it starts to cool,
slowly at first, then much more quickly as it passes over the nose ring at the
end of the kiln and drops out into the cooler.
Fuels
The most common fuels used in a cement kiln are probably coal and petroleum
coke. Gas is also used.
Recently, particularly in the last ten years or so, many cement producers have
reduced their consumption of fossil fuels by supplementing them with other
greener types of fuel (Chapter 12). Examples of these substitute fuels include
bonemeal, car tyres (chopped into small pieces, or chipped) and waste paper.
Hazardous waste materials such as solvents are also burned.
4.3 The clinker cooler

There are various types of cooler we will consider only one, the grate cooler.
The purpose of a cooler is, obviously, to cool the clinker. This is important for
several reasons:
From an engineering viewpoint, cooling is necessary to prevent damage to

clinker handling equipment such as conveyors.
From both a process and chemical viewpoint, it is beneficial to minimise

clinker temperature as it enters the clinker mill. The clinker gets hot in
the mill and excessive mill temperatures are undesirable, as we will see
later. If the clinker is cool as it enters the mill, this is clearly helpful.
From an environmental and a cost viewpoint, the cooler reduces energy

consumption by extracting heat from the clinker, enabling it to be used to
heat the raw materials.
From a cement performance viewpoint, faster cooling of the clinker

enhances silicate reactivity; slow-cooling is undesirable as it allows the
clinker minerals to convert to more stable, less reactive, crystal types.
However, the most critical part of the cooling from the viewpoint of clinker
reactivity takes place in the kiln after the clinker has passed the burning
zone, before it reaches the cooler.
The cooler also heats the air entering the kiln around the main burner; hot air
(800-1000 C) gives a better flame.
Figure 4.9 Clinker cooler: hot clinker from the kiln is

carried on a moving grate towards the front of the picture.
Cool air is blown from underneath. (Picture courtesy Rugby
Cement.)
The cooled clinker is then conveyed either to the clinker store or directly to the
clinker mill. The clinker store holds several weeks supply of clinker (or more), so
that deliveries to customers can be maintained when the kiln is not operating.
4.4 The cement mill

Cement clinker is usually milled using a ball mill. A ball mill is essentially a large
rotating drum containing steel balls, or grinding media. As the drum rotates, the
motion of the steel balls crushes the clinker. The mill rotates approximately once
every couple of seconds.
A mill will usually have two or three chambers, with different size grinding media.
As the clinker particles are ground down, smaller media are more efficient at
further reducing particle size.
Mills are either open circuit or closed circuit mills:
In an open circuit mill, the clinker passes through the mill and the feed
rate of clinker into the mill is adjusted to achieve the desired fineness of
the product.
In a closed circuit system, particle size is controlled more closely; coarse

particles are separated from the finer product and returned to the mill for
further grinding.
Cement from an open circuit mill has a wider particle size range than cement
from a closed circuit mill; in an open circuit mill, some particles don't get ground
sufficiently while others are ground extremely finely. Closed circuit milling is more
efficient because it concentrates the milling effort more effectively on those
particles that require further grinding.
Clinker is interground with gypsum in the mill. Gypsum is added in order to

control the setting properties of the cement, of which more later. The milling
process uses a lot of energy and cement in the mill becomes hot. High milling
temperatures result in the gypsum becoming dehydrated, with potentially
undesirable results in concrete - more on this later as well.
Figure 4.10 Inside a stationary ball mill, showing steel

grinding media and part-ground cement. (Picture courtesy
Castle Cement.)
Recently, an alternative type of mill, the vertical roller mill (VRM) has also
become popular because of its lower power consumption.
Further reading, Chapter 4
Portland Cement: Composition, Production and Properties, G C Bye, pub.

Thomas Telford Ltd., 2nd edition, 1999. ISBN-13: 978-0727727664. Chapters 2
and 3.
5 Portland cement manufacturing from raw
materials to cement
In Chapter 4 we looked at the different parts of a cement plant. In this chapter,

we will consider what happens as the raw materials are transformed into cement.
5.1 Raw material blending

Suppose we have a source of limestone and a source of clay and that we have
had them both analysed. Ideally, we would like to control all three clinker
compositional parameters: LSF, SR and AR.
We can blend the limestone and clay in the correct proportions to give whatever
value for LSF we like, say 97%. However, the SR and AR will then be fixed by
whatever the composition of the raw materials determines them to be. Since
SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 are mainly contributed by the clay, it is the clay composition
that will largely determine these parameters.
In general terms, two types of raw material, such as limestone and clay, can be
proportioned to fix any one parameter only, say the LSF.
To fix x ratios, x+1 materials of suitable composition are needed, so to control all
three parameters, LSF, SR and AR, a cement plant needs to blend four different
materials of suitable composition. On a coal-fired plant, the composition of the
coal ash also needs to be allowed for, since the ash also ends up in the clinker
and combines with the other materials.
In practice, a cement plant may have five or six different raw materials in order
to control composition.
5.2 Minor constituents

Although the four main oxides, lime, silica, ferric oxide and alumina, comprise
typically 94% - 97% of a Portland cement clinker, the other minor constituents
have an important effect both on reactions in the cement kiln and on cement
hydration.
Portland cement manufacturing from raw materials to cement
You cant use just any limestone or clay for cement-making - minor components
in the raw materials also need to be considered. For example, standard
specifications prescribe limits on the magnesium oxide that can be present in the
clinker, so a dolomitic limestone a limestone containing magnesium carbonate
as well as calcium carbonate may be unsuitable.
The most common minor constituents normally present in clinker and therefore in
the raw materials, are:
Alkali (Na2O, K2O) perhaps 0.5% - 0.8%
Sulfate (SO3) typically about 1%, usually between 0.5% and 1.5%
Magnesia (MgO) typically about 1% - 2%
TiO2 typically about 0.3%
P2O5 typically about 0.1% 0.2%
Well look at the first three of these, alkalis, sulfates and magnesia in more
detail.
Alkalis and sulfates
In a cement-making context, alkalis usually means potassium and sodium.

Alkalis are generally present combined with sulfates. Potassium sulfate, as the
mineral arcanite, is a common type of alkali sulfate present in clinker. Sulfate can
be introduced from fuel as well as being present in the raw materials.
While alkalis and sulfate will combine where possible, it is unlikely that the
proportions of both will be present in just the right amounts to make, for
example, potassium sulfate. It is more likely that there will be an excess of
either alkali or sulfate in the clinker.
Normally, a small amount of alkali enters into the alite, belite and ferrite phases.
A slightly larger proportion of alkali is normally contained in the aluminate phase,
perhaps up to about 1%.
Separately, some sulfate also enters into the structures of the four main clinker
minerals, particularly belite, which may have up to about 0.5% SO3 within the
belite but not present as alkali sulfate. Belite sulfate contents generally increase
as the total clinker sulfate increases.
It is normally beneficial for the clinkering process, and for subsequent cement
hydration, that there is an excess of sulfate compared with alkali. The surplus
sulfate normally combines with lime to form a double-sulfate called calcium
langbeinite (2CaSO4.K2SO4). This is usually present intimately mixed with
arcanite.
On the other hand, if there is an excess of alkali compared with sulfate, the
excess alkali enters the belite and aluminate phases. This is detrimental and to
be avoided if possible. Alkalis and sulfates will be considered further when we
look at the reactions in the kiln.
Magnesia (MgO)
Small amounts of magnesium can replace calcium in the four main clinker
minerals. If the main clinker minerals cant accommodate all the magnesium
within their crystal structures, the excess forms crystals of periclase (magnesium
oxide).
Small amounts of periclase are not a problem but large amounts are undesirable,
as the periclase may hydrate within hardened concrete; the conversion of
magnesium oxide to magnesium hydroxide is an expansive reaction and can
cause damage. For this reason, cement standard specifications impose a
maximum limit on the MgO content of cement, typically 4%-6%.
In addition to limiting the potential for expansion by controlling composition,

standard specifications generally also impose a test for expansion under specified
experimental conditions to identify expansive cements.
Other minor constituents
Some heavy metals retard cement hydration (eg: lead, zinc); the presence of
these would obviously be undesirable from the viewpoint of the cement, as would
emission of toxic heavy metals during manufacture.
Fluoride can retard the setting of cement but it can also act as a mineraliser
together with sulfate, enabling alite formation in cement clinker at a lower
temperature, with consequent savings in fuel. Mineralised cements
characteristically have good early strengths.
5.3 Combinability temperatures

Combinability is about getting the raw materials to react, and how easily they do
it.
If we were looking at potential raw materials for cement production, in addition

to just looking at the analyses of the materials, we would need to know how well
they combined with each other.
There are different approaches to this, but the basic idea is to do a series of trial
mixes and assess how well they combine in a laboratory furnace.
First, we establish a fixed burning regime, eg: 30 minutes at the required

temperature, intended to represent the time in the burning zone of the kiln.
For example, we might mix limestone and shale at an LSF of 0.94 and burn ten
samples of this mix at different temperatures for 30 minutes well call this Mix
A. When cool, we measure the free lime in each and draw a combinability curve
for Mix A by plotting free lime against burning temperature.
We then repeat this for other mixes, eg: the same limestone and shale mixed to
an LSF of 0.98; well call this Mix B. For two mixes, A and B, we now have data
relating burning temperatures and free lime (Figure 5.1). We would expect hotter
burning to give lower free lime contents.
Figure 5.1 Examples of typical combinability curves for

two mixes.
We then decide on a free lime level that we consider represents acceptable

combination (eg: 1%, but it could be, say, 1.5% or 2%). Well use 1%.
The combinability temperature for each mix can be read from the plots at the
intersection of the curve with the line CaO=1%. In Figure 5.1, the combinability
temperatures, T(A) and T(B) for Mixes A and B are about 1430 C and 1560 C
respectively.
Combinability depends on composition, specifically on the LSF, SR and AR.
Combinability also depends on particle fineness, so we would have to include a

measure of fineness, such as the 90m raw feed residue in the tests as well. The
composition of the coarse residue is also important; a particle of silica 100m
across is more difficult to combine than a particle of limestone of the same size.
Combinability depends additionally on how well the raw materials react together;
a marl might be composed of small particles of calcium carbonate, silica and clay
all together in one rock type in approximately the desired proportions to make
cement. The small particles, already in close proximity with each other, will
probably react more easily than a mix of the same overall composition containing
a blend of three rock types say, chalk, silica and clay.
In order to find out how each of these parameters affects how particular raw
materials will combine, we need to do a large number of test burns. Assuming we
have a suitable range of raw materials to control all three parameters (at least
four materials) individual parameters can be changed to show how each
parameter affects the combinability temperature for that mix.
First, we produce a series of mixes with varying LSF but the same SR and AR and
fineness, we then burn each of these mixes at different temperatures to find the
combinability temperature for that mix (ie: the temperature that gives us 1%
free lime). We then repeat, but varying the SR and then the AR. Finally, we
repeat the whole exercise, this time using material of a different fineness.
(Fineness can mean the blended raw materials collectively, or we could test
variations in the fineness of each component).
It will be clear that combinability experiments may involve doing tens or even
hundreds of individual burns of test mixes and that this is not a trivial exercise.
Many hours of fun later, we would be able to produce standard plots of

combinability temperatures against the other variables. We would typically expect
to find that:
Combinability temperatures increased with increasing LSF (Figure

5.2).
Combinability temperatures increased with increasing SR (Figure

5.3).
Combinability temperatures showed a minimum at about AR=1.4

(Figure 5.4).
The coarser the material, the more difficult it is to combine (Figure

5.5).
We could expect that the combinability temperature would increase with LSF; to
produce a clinker in which the calcium silicates are all in the form of alite will
require the constituents to be evenly mixed. Any heterogeneities will result in
areas of excess lime or silica and these will be difficult to combine. With
decreasing LSF mix heterogeneities become less important.
We would also expect the combinability temperature to increase with increasing

SR because, as the SR increases, there will be less liquid to facilitate
combination.
The reason for a minimum in the combinability temperature at around AR=1.4 is

less obvious. Alumina Ratios for ordinary Portland cement - normal grey cement -
are in the range 1 to 4. However, at the lowest temperature at which liquid will
form (1338 C), the amount of liquid will be at a maximum at AR=1.38.
Since it is the liquid flux that mainly facilitates combination, mixes of AR ratio of
1.38 will be easiest to burn. Strictly, this applies to the CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-Fe2O3
system. Minor constituents can alter the optimum AR; magnesium oxide, for
example, increases it.
Combination is also affected by the viscosity of the liquid phase; a less viscous
liquid will be more mobile and this will aid combination. Liquid viscosity increases
with increasing AR and decreases with increasing temperature.
Finally, the coarseness of the reactants affect the rate of any chemical reaction,
so it is no surprise that coarser material is harder to combine than fine material.
Figure 5.2 Example of a typical curve Figure 5.3 Example of a typical curve
showing combinability temperature showing combinability temperature
variation with LSF. With increasing LSF, it variation with SR. With increasing silica
becomes progressively harder to achieve ratio, mixes become harder to burn, as
combination. Above 100% LSF, there will there is less liquid present for ion
always be some uncombined free lime. transport, without which lime cannot
combine with belite to form alite.
Figure 5.4 Example of a typical curve Figure 5.5 Example of a typical curve
showing combinability temperature showing combinability temperature
variation with AR at fixed LSF and SR. variation for a fixed composition with
Combinability temperatures are at a 90m sieve residue. Coarser material is
minimum at about AR=1.3-1.5. harder to combine.
So, returning to the question of what the best clinker composition might be, from
the previous section, suppose we want a high content of calcium silicates, with a
high alite content. This means both a high LSF and a high SR. However, the
curves in Figures 5.2 and 5.3 show that either will make the raw materials harder
to combine, so in a mix with both a high LSF and a high SR, good combination
might be difficult to achieve.
In practice, the main factor influencing the clinker composition will be the
compositions of the main raw materials to be used. For example, if a fairly pure
limestone and a clay are to be used, the clay composition will largely determine
the silica ratio and the alumina ratio, because the limestone wont contain much
silica and alumina. Much more control would be possible for the lime saturation
factor, by adjusting the ratio in which the limestone and clay are mixed.
Of course, as we have seen, technically a cement works can have almost

complete control over clinker composition by blending raw materials of different
composition to produce the desired result. Compositions are often a compromise
between what is ideally wanted and what can be achieved in reality, given the
composition of the available raw materials. Other important factors will include
fuel and raw material grinding costs, and practical issues such as how finely the
raw material mills can grind material at the required throughput.
5.4 Raw material proportioning

Proportioning calculations show how much of each raw material is needed to
achieve the desired clinker composition. Before computers became widely
available these calculations, done with pencil and paper, were an entertaining
part of cement technology courses.
Where coal is the fuel for the kiln, the calculation also needs to take into account
the effect of coal ash. Most of the ash will become incorporated into the clinker
and the quantity of ash is enough to have a significant effect on clinker
composition; ash may represent perhaps 2%-8% of the clinker.
To calculate the effect of coal ash, we would need to know: how much coal is
needed to produce a tonne of clinker; the proportion of ash retained in the clinker
(probably most of it); the proportion of ash in the coal and the composition of the
ash.
The principle of the proportioning calculation is simple but the actual calculation
is tedious when done manually. Computers can do it instantly by solving
simultaneous equations, so well save a few hours and move swiftly on.
5.5 Reactions in the kiln

Weve blended our milled raw materials in the correct proportions (trusting our
computer) and the raw feed now goes to the kiln. Well consider the reactions in
the kiln under three broad headings:
Reactions before the burning zone, below about 1350 C
Reactions in the burning zone (1350 C - 1500C)
Cooling of the clinker.
5.5.1 Reactions before the burning zone
In a dry-process kiln, some reactions will take place in the preheater tower
before the feed enters the kiln. Any moisture will evaporate, some or most of the
limestone will be calcined and the surfaces of siliceous particles in the feed will
start to combine with adjacent lime particles.
In a wet-process kiln, all the reactions obviously take place in the kiln.
Water evaporation and calcining
In isolation, decarbonation of calcium carbonate at one atmosphere takes place

at 894 C. This temperature is reduced to 500 C - 600 C if the reaction takes
place in contact with quartz or the decomposition products of clay minerals.
In a wet-process kiln, water evaporation and calcination takes place in the kiln,
within the moving mass of feed. This situation is not ideal because heat transfer
has to take place through a large mass of material and water vapour and CO2
have to escape outwards, taking heat with them, when the objective is to
transfer heat inwards. Calcining takes place after the water has been driven off,
about a third of the way down the kiln.
In a dry process preheater kiln, any moisture in the feed particles is evaporated
and up to about half of the limestone is decarbonated before the feed enters the
kiln. Surface reactions on siliceous particles will occur to a limited extent.
In a dry process kiln with a precalciner, most of the limestone is calcined before
the feed enters the kiln. Calcination takes place in a few seconds, rather than the
half an hour or so inside a wet kiln at the same temperature. The surfaces of
siliceous particles will react with lime to a greater extent than in a kiln with a
preheater only, due to the higher temperatures.
In a preheater kiln, especially one with a precalciner, low temperature sulfate

melts condensing from the kiln gases onto the feed can aid combination of lime
and siliceous particles.
Formation of early and intermediate compounds
As lime is calcined, it starts to react with other components of the raw feed. The
main initial silicate product is belite. Some calcium aluminate (CA and C12A7) and
ferrite phases also start to form.
Some minerals are formed in the kiln at relatively low temperatures compared
with the temperature in the burning zone. Most of these minerals dissociate in
the burning zone and are not therefore present in the clinker; these minerals are
termed intermediate compounds. Some intermediate compounds assist in
forming the final clinker minerals.
Before decarbonation is completed, a calcium silicate carbonate known as

spurrite frequently forms. Its composition can be written as 2C2S.CaCO3,
suggesting it is a step on the way to forming belite. It can cause problems in the
presence of solid condensation products at the kiln back end (cool end); spurrite
can reinforce these deposits by sticking feed particles together, producing rings
or blockages that are difficult to remove.
Other intermediate products that may form include calcium sulfosilicate

(2C2S.CaSO4) and Kleins compound (C3A.CaSO4). The extent of these is
dependent on the overall level of sulfate in the clinker.
A sulfate melt phase may form, consisting mainly of alkali sulfates (Chapter 5.6);
this liquid phase can aid combination of lime and silica and is not miscible with
the main liquid phase. Alkali chlorides may be also present.
5.5.2 Reactions in the burning zone
In the burning zone, above about 1350 C, reactions take place quickly. The
clinker is in the burning zone for perhaps 15-30 minutes but in this time a lot
happens:
The proportion of clinker liquid increases and nodules form.
Intermediate compounds dissociate to form liquid and belite.
Belite reacts with free lime to form alite.
Some volatile phases evaporate.
Clinker liquid and nodule formation
Above about 1350 C, the proportion of liquid starts to increase. By 1450 C,

perhaps 20-30% of the mix is liquid. The liquid forms from melting ferrite and
aluminate phases and some belite, in addition to any sulfate melt phase already
present. The liquid content is more than the sum of the aluminate and ferrite
phases in the cooled clinker mainly because of dissolved lime and silica.
The additional liquid causes feed particles to stick together, leading to the
formation of clinker nodules.
Dissociation of intermediate compounds
As the temperature rises, the intermediate phases that formed at lower

temperatures (CA and C12A7, spurrite and calcium sulfosilicate) dissociate to form
mainly aluminate phase and belite.
Alite formation
Alite forms mainly by the reaction of lime with belite. Some alite also forms
directly from free lime and silica. These reactions occur rapidly once the clinker
temperature is above about 1400 C.
Evaporation of volatiles
Alkalis, sulfates and chlorides are present in the burning zone chiefly as sulfate
melts and are liable to volatilise. The volatilised material passes down the kiln,
where it condenses on the cooler, part-reacted, feed. It then travels back towards
the burning zone, where it may volatilise again; it may follow this cycle many
times. These recycling volatiles are known as the recirculating volatile load.
A high recirculating volatile load may cause adverse clinker characteristics. It

can also result in kiln rings when condensed volatiles adhere to the kiln wall
causing rings to form, or blockages in the riser duct or cyclones. These can
interfere with production if the kiln has to be shut down to remove the blockage.
Clinker sulfate phases will be looked at in Chapter 5.6.
5.5.3 Reducing conditions
A kiln is a metal box containing a flame. A controlled supply of air (secondary

air) is admitted to allow combustion but if oxygen loss in the burning zone is
extreme, due for example to very high burning temperatures, poor flame
direction or poor mixing of secondary air or insufficient secondary air, reducing
conditions can result. This adversely affects cement quality.
Reducing conditions cause Iron (III) to be reduced to Iron (II). Iron (II) can
substitute for calcium and so can be present in all the clinker phases.
The consequences of this are numerous, including:
Less liquid in the clinker, because there is less Iron (III). Effectively, the
SR is increased, so alite formation is inhibited, necessitating harder
burning.
As the clinker cools, some or most of the iron (II) reoxidises to iron (III).
As it does so, some alite dissociates into belite and free lime because iron
that was substituting for calcium in the alite is no longer present; the
lower alite content results in some loss of cement hydraulicity.
Iron may reduce further to form metallic iron. Sulfides also form, altering
the balance between alkali and sulfate in the clinker (Chapter 5.6).
The effect on cement made from clinker produced under reducing conditions is
generally to reduce cement performance. Concrete strengths may be lower and
setting times erratic. Overall, reducing conditions in the kiln are undesirable.
The only exception to this is that of white cement. White cement clinker is
burned deliberately under slightly reducing conditions to reduce iron (III) to iron
(II) that way the cement is whiter. As there is little iron present anyway, the
negative aspects of reduction are minimal.
5.5.4 Cooling of Clinker
As soon as the clinker passes the burning zone, it begins to cool, even though it
is still inside the kiln. The cooling rate from the burning temperature down to
perhaps 1000 C is especially important; much of this cooling occurs before the
clinker reaches the cooler. Fast cooling of clinker is advantageous; it makes for
more hydraulically-reactive silicates and lots of small, intergrown, aluminate and
ferrite crystals.
Slow cooling gives less hydraulically-reactive silicates, allows alite to decompose

to belite and free lime, and produces coarse crystals of aluminate and ferrite.
Over-large aluminate crystals can lead to erratic setting characteristics.
Rapid cooling probably makes the clinker easier to grind by inducing thermal
cracking.
5.6 Clinker sulfate phases

Most clinkers contain sulfate, expressed as SO3, in amounts ranging from about
0.5% to 2%. Around 1% SO3 is fairly typical. Despite this relatively low
proportion of the total clinker, sulfates and related alkalis play an important part
in both clinker mineral formation and in cement hydration.
In the kiln, sulfate is beneficial as it forms a sulfate melt phase which promotes
reactions by acting as a flux, helping ion transfer in the same way as the main
liquid phase.
Although clinker leaving the kiln may typically contain perhaps 1% SO3, the
proportion of sulfate in the partly-combined material in the kiln will be higher,
possibly much higher; this is because of the recirculating volatiles, of which alkali
sulfates are likely to be the principal component. Within the kiln, the proportion
of sulfate melt phase could be 5% or more of the charge.
When clinker is ground to make cement, gypsum is added to control the setting
of the cement. However, the clinker alkali sulfate phases can also contribute to
controlling the set. Since sulfates are largely combined with alkalis, sodium and
potassium in the cement-making context, alkalis and sulfates have to be
considered together.
Clinker alkali sulfate forms mainly in pores in the clinker (Figure 5.6).
Figure 5.6 Clinker alkali sulfate in a pore in a

clinker nodule (arrowed).
It is unlikely that the amount of available sulfate will exactly equate with the
amount of available alkali to make alkali sulfates; there will normally be an
excess of one over the other. An excess of available sulfate over available alkali
is the more desirable of the two alternatives.
If there is an excess of sulfate over alkali, calcium combines with the excess
sulfate to form another double sulfate known as calcium langbeinite
(K2O.2CaO.3SO3). Calcium langbeinite is an effective set retarder. Clinker alkalis
can enhance early strength development in concrete as they accelerate the rate
of alite hydration by increasing the alkalinity of the pore fluid,.
The types of clinker sulfate present are determined by the ratio of clinker alkali to
sulfate and by the types of alkali. The main forms of clinker alkali sulfate are:
Arcanite - mainly K2SO4 often with minor replacement of potassium by

sodium
Calcium langbeinite (K2SO4 . 2CaSO4)
Clinkers of higher Na/K ratio may contain aphthitalite (mainly

3K2O.Na2O.4SO3)
Clinkers with high Na and low K may contain thenardite (Na2SO4)
High sulfate/low alkali clinkers may contain anhydrite (CaSO4)
While most alkali and sulfate in clinker is present as alkali sulfate inclusions in
pores in the clinker, some alkali and some sulfate are incorporated into the four
main clinker phases.
Alkali and sulfate, uncombined with each other, are generally present in belite;
typical levels are 0.2% SO3 and 0.9% K2O although this varies considerably.
Belite often also contains small inclusions of alkali sulfate.
Normal aluminate generally contains little sulfate but perhaps typically a total of
about 1% Na2O and K2O. Normal aluminate has a cubic crystal structure, but
another form of aluminate with a prismatic crystal structure also occurs in some
clinkers. Prismatic aluminate (or alkali aluminate) has a higher alkali content, up
to 4%-5% K2O and Na2O combined. It occurs where there is an excess of alkali
over sulfate in the clinker; it is detrimental in itself, leading to erratic setting
characteristics of cement, and is symptomatic of undesirable clinkering
conditions.
Clinker alkalis and sulfates it is all a matter of balance
Suppose we have a clinker which has an excess of available alkali over sulfate.
For simplicity, suppose all the alkali is K2O.
Available means neglecting alkali and sulfate bound in the solid phases, alite and
belite, in the burning zone and not available to form alkali sulfates. (Free lime
does not normally contain much alkali or sulfate). Excess of alkali over sulfate
means that there is alkali left over after all the available sulfate has combined
with alkali. Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) consists of about 54.1% K2O and 45.9%
SO3.
For a clinker with 0.50% available sulfate, alkali and sulfate are in balance if the
clinker also contains about 0.59% available K2O.
A small excess of available alkali over sulfate is not usually important, unless it is
abnormal for clinker from that particular cement plant. If so, cement
characteristics may be altered and customers may notice. A large excess of
available alkali over sulfate is to be avoided if possible because:
In a clinker with excess alkali over sulfate, the excess alkali will be
present as an elevated alkali content in both the aluminate and belite
phases.
Excess alkali in belite will inhibit combination with free lime to make alite
in the burning zone.
Excess alkali in the aluminate may cause setting problems.
Water-soluble alkali aids early strength development; if alkali is tied up in

the main clinker phases it is not available and early strengths may
decline.
Suppose now that the clinker sulfate content is gradually increased (perhaps by
burning a higher-sulfur fuel), while the alkali content is maintained. There will be
less alkali in the aluminate and belite and more alkali sulfate as arcanite. At
some point, the available alkali and sulfate will be balanced, with all alkali sulfate
present as arcanite. Combinability and cement performance should improve.
If the sulfate level is increased further, the excess sulfate combines with calcium
to form the double sulfate calcium langbeinite (K2SO4.2CaSO4). The clinker will
then contain a mixture of calcium langbeinite and arcanite. With yet more sulfate
addition, at some point all of the alkali sulfate will be present as calcium
langbeinite.
With still more sulfate, anhydrite will start to form, although this is unusual.
As the clinker sulfate increases, recirculating sulfate loads and deposit build-ups
may cause kiln operating problems.
Summary of role of sulfate in clinker
The clinker sulfate melt phase contributes to ion transfer in the same way
as the main liquid phase - if there is less sulfate melt phase, its fluxing
contribution will be less and combination of the clinker minerals will be
more difficult to achieve.
Clinker sulfate combines with available alkali, preventing it entering belite

and aluminate. If there is an excess of available alkali compared with
available sulfate, there will be an undesirable excess of alkali over sulfate.
If the recirculating volatile load is too high, production problems are likely
with sulfate-rich build-ups causing blockages.
Clinker sulfate contributes to set control during hydration.
Alkalis from clinker sulfate aid early strength development in concrete.
5.7 Clinker grinding and gypsum addition

Cement mills (Figure 4.10) are usually tube mills with two or more separate
chambers containing different sizes of steel balls, or grinding media. A large mill
might be about 15 metres long and 5 metres in diameter. Diaphragms perforated
with holes or slots permit the passage of cement from one chamber to the next,
allowing cement particles through, but not the grinding media.
The grinding of clinker requires a lot of energy. How easy a particular clinker is to
grind - grindability - is difficult to predict, but rapid cooling of the clinker is
thought to improve grindability due to the presence of microcracks in alite and to
the finer crystal size of the flux phases.
The fineness of cement is one of the main factors controlling its behaviour when
mixed with water. Cement ground to a finer particle size will clearly react more
quickly than the same cement milled more coarsely. Fineness is measured s the
specific surface area in square metres per kilogram (m2 kg-1). This is typically
determined by an air permeability test, eg: the Lea and Nurse method or the
Blaine method. These methods give similar results, typically 350-450 m2 kg-1;
rapid-hardening (high early strength) cements will be at the higher end of this
range. Other test methods may give different values.
As part of the grinding process, calcium sulfate is added as a set regulator,

usually in the form of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O). Natural anhydrite may also be
added to fine-tune the rate at which sulfate dissolves when the cement is mixed
with water. It also may reduce the tendency of the cement to agglomerate during
storage, known as air-setting.
Air-setting is due to small crystals of syngenite (calcium potassium sulfate

hydrate, CaSO4.K2SO4.H2O) sticking cement particles together; the water for the
formation of syngenite can come from moist air, or from the water of hydration in
gypsum, or from residual internal cooling water if the mill temperature falls.
Since the clinker gets hot in the mill due to the heat generated by grinding,
gypsum can be partly dehydrated. It then forms hemihydrate, or plaster of Paris
CaSO4.1/2H2O. On further heating, hemihydrate dehydrates further to a form of
calcium sulfate known as soluble anhydrite (CaSO4 with a trace of water); this
has a similar solubility in water to hemihydrate, which in turn has a higher
solubility than either gypsum or natural anhydrite.
Cement mills need to be cooled to limit the temperature rise of the cement. This
is done by air-cooling, or air-cooling and water-cooling.
The relative proportions and different solubilities of these various types of

calcium sulfate are of importance in controlling the rate of aluminate hydration
and consequently of cement set retardation. Changes in soluble sulfate
availability can also affect the performance of some concrete admixtures.
Problems associated with setting and strength characteristics of concrete can

often be traced to one or more of:
changes in the relative proportions of gypsum and hemihydrate due to hot

milling.
changes in the relative proportions of clinker sulfate compared with added

gypsum.
variations in cooling rate of the clinker in the kiln and subsequent changes
in the proportions or size of the C3A crystals.
Solubilities of the different sulfate types in decreasing order are approximately:
arcanite > calcium langbeinite > hemihydrate soluble anhydrite > gypsum >
natural anhydrite.
In controlling the rate of aluminate hydration to regulate the setting of cement,

the most important feature of the aluminate is not necessarily the absolute
amount present, but the amount of surface available to water for reaction. This
will be governed by many factors, such as the surface area of the cement, the
grinding characteristics of the different phases and also the size of the aluminate
crystals. Over-large crystals can lead to erratic setting characteristics.
To summarise this complex issue of clinker sulfate and added gypsum and other
sulfate:
In a cement from any given source (ie: same kiln), the clinker sulfates
may vary in type and quantity over time.
At the clinker mill, sulfate will be added to a target figure, typically about
3% SO3, but because total clinker sulfate may vary, the proportion of
clinker sulfate to added sulfate may also vary.
As different forms of sulfate have different solubilities, these variations

may have a detectable effect on cement hydration and concrete
properties.
5.8 Other additions

Materials other than gypsum may be incorporated into cement at the cement
mill, but different standard specifications differ over what are permissible
additions. The European standard specification EN 197-1 permits the use of 5%
by mass of minor additional constituents including limestone, fly ash or kiln
dust.
Grinding aids
Grinding aids are small quantities (typically up to 0.2% by mass of clinker) of

usually organic liquids such as triethanolamine or solid organic amines that are
added because they improve grinding efficiency; in other words, less energy is
required to achieve the same cement fineness. They operate by inhibiting the
formation of coatings of powder on the grinding media, and by facilitating crack
propagation. Some grinding aids are also designed to affect cement hydration.
Limestone
Small amounts of limestone, typically up to 5% limestone, may be interground

with clinker where permitted by national standard specifications. This is a
relatively recent development in many countries. Limestone is softer than clinker
and so generally grinds preferentially, resulting in very fine limestone particles.
Cynics may say that cement companies like to add limestone because limestone
is cheaper than cement. While this cost comparison is undeniable, there is a bit
more to it than that.
In the past, cement mills were open circuit mills and the cement produced by
them had a wide range of particle sizes, from very fine to over-coarse. More
recently, cement mills have tended to be closed circuit mills; cement from a
closed circuit mill tends to have a narrower particle size range compared with
cement from an open-circuit mill and this increases the water demand of the
cement.
Concrete made with cement that has a higher water demand will tend to be of
lower strength because the water/cement ratio is higher. By intergrinding
limestone, the very fine limestone particles act to reduce the water demand of
the cement because they occupy space between the cement particles that would
otherwise be occupied by water. The presence of a small amount of interground
limestone therefore can increase concrete strengths by reducing the
water/cement ratio required when mixing the concrete.
For related reasons, fine limestone has the positive effects of reducing bleeding
and/or allowing the cement to be ground slightly coarser for the same strength.
Fine limestone can also be beneficial by providing nucleation sites on which

hydration products can form; this fine filler effect increases the rate at which
material is precipitated from solution. In turn, the rate at which dissolution can
occur at the surfaces of the cement particles is also increased, resulting in a
faster rate of cement hydration and improved early strengths. The fine filler
effect may also improve later strengths by producing a more uniform hydrate
microstructure.
In summary, the benefits of intergrinding small amounts of limestone (up to

about 5%) are:
Reduces the water demand of the cement
Reduces bleeding
Allows cement to be ground slightly coarser, saving energy
Reduces the quantity of clinker in the cement, saving energy and raw
materials
Acts as nucleation sites, aiding early cement hydration and improving the
hydrate microstructure
Small amounts of fine limestone in cement can therefore reduce the energy
required to produce the same quantity of cement, and have beneficial effects on
concrete properties.
The added limestone acts as a filler, but a proportion of it will react with the
cement and contribute to the composition of the cement hydration products
(Chapters 6.3 and 11).
Reducing agents to limit Chromium VI
Some countries impose limits on the Chromium VI content of cement. This is

because chromium causes skin sensitisation, resulting in allergy problems. Not all
chromium in cement is chromium VI, the majority is generally Chromium III;
however, Chromium VI compounds are more water-soluble and so are more likely
to cause problems.
Reducing agents are added to control the Chromium VI content of the cement.
Typical reducing agents are ferrous sulfate, either the monohydrate (FeSO4.H2O)
or heptahydrate (FeSO4.7H2O) forms, or stannous sulfate (SnSO4). By mass of
cement, approximately 0.5% ferrous sulfate is typically added, and
approximately 0.05% stannous sulfate. At such low levels of addition, no
significant adverse effects on cement performance would normally be expected.
In the European Union, the Chromium VI Directive came into effect in 2005 and
prohibits the use or supply of cements containing more than 2 ppm water-soluble
hexavalent chromium by mass of cement.
5.9 Calculation of clinker minerals in cement

The Bogue calculation (Chapter 3.5.1) can be applied to cement in modified form.
This is more complex than for a clinker as we need to consider what other
materials may have been added to the cement at the grinding stage, or any other
time.
Firstly, gypsum will be present, so we have to allow for the proportion of CaO
assumed to be present as calcium sulfate. One approach is to subtract 0.7 x
(SO3) from the CaO in the bulk composition of the cement, in the same way that
free CaO is subtracted. For many years, this was a standard procedure. Of
course, this introduces a slight error as it neglects any clinker sulfate, but if no
other material has been added, this is still the simplest approach. After making
the deduction for sulfate (and for free lime if required), the calculation can be
done in the usual way as outlined in Chapter 3.5.1.
However, in addition to gypsum, many cements now also contain up to 5%

interground limestone. (Some standard specifications permit the addition of other
materials also, such as fly ash, but that is a further complication we wont
consider here).
To allow for limestone in the calculation, the CO2 content of the cement should be
determined and the limestone content estimated. If the purity of the limestone is
known, a more accurate determination can be made; for example, pure
limestone (100% calcium carbonate) contains 44% CO2 but if the limestone is
80% pure, it will contain only 35% CO2.
The American standard specification for Portland cement ASTM C 150-07 contains
a modified version of the Bogue calculation that allows for both added gypsum
and limestone:
MODIFIED BOGUE CALCULATION TO ALLOW FOR INTERGROUND GYPSUM

AND LIMESTONE
C3S = 4.071CaO-7.600SiO2-1.430Fe2O3-6.718Al2O3-2.852SO3-5.188CO2
C2S = 2.867SiO2-0.7544C3S
C3A = 2.650Al2O3-1.692Fe2O3
C4AF = 3.043Fe2O3
As given above, this is a calculation of the potential phase composition, since it

does not allow for any free CaO. For any calculations related to that standard
specification, the calculation stated in the standard should obviously be followed.
As discussed previously (Chapter 3.5.1), in some other circumstances, it may be

useful to first subtract the free lime content of the cement (if known) before
performing the calculation, in order to obtain an improved estimate of the actual
alite content.
Portland Cement: Composition, Production and Properties, G C Bye, Thomas

Telford Ltd., 2nd edition, 1999. ISBN-13: 978-0727727664. Chapters 2-5.
6 Hydration of cement chemical and physical
properties of cementitious materials
Cement hydration is the process by which cement and water react together.
When cement and water are mixed in suitable proportions, the result of the
reaction is a solid mass, composed of gel and crystalline material, which binds
together the constituents of a concrete mix.
In a Portland cement composed of clinker and interground gypsum, the reactants

in the process are:
From the clinker: alite, belite, aluminate and ferrite, plus alkali sulfates
and free lime
Gypsum interground with the clinker
Water
The main products of the reactions are:
Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H)
Ettringite (up to 1-2 days)
Monosulfate (after about 1-3 days)
Calcium hydroxide
A mix of cement and water forms a hard cement paste. Concrete is a mix of
cement, water and aggregate (ie: sand and gravel or crushed stone) in which the
aggregate is bonded in a matrix of cement paste. Because it is the cement paste
that binds all the constituents together as a single, solid, mass it follows that the
properties of the concrete (strength and durability for example) will be critically
influenced by the properties of the cement paste.
Hydration of cement chemical and physical properties of cementitious materials
6.1 Hydration of cement: heat evolution

Portland cement is composed largely of the four main clinker minerals, plus some
clinker alkali sulfate and gypsum. When cement is mixed with water, virtually all
the alkali sulfate from the clinker dissolves rapidly. Calcium sulfate dissolves until
the solution becomes saturated.
Of the four main clinker phases, the aluminate phase is the most reactive,
followed by alite, then belite. Ferrite is initially very reactive but the hydration
subsequently slows appreciably.
When cement and water are mixed, exothermic reactions occur. The rate at which
heat is evolved varies for the first three days or so and then gradually declines.
The general shape of this plot is useful in understanding the reactions that occur
as the cement hydrates (Figure 6.1).
The shape of the plot shows a rapid exothermic reaction at first (I in Figure 6.1);
the * in Figure 6.1 symbolises a fast increase in heat evolution when water is
added, then a fast drop, too near the y-axis to be shown.
Figure 6.1 General form of heat evolution curve of

hydrating Portland cement. H represents the rate of
heat evolution, measured in watts per kilogram of
cement. Stages I to V are described in the text.
The initial reaction lasts only a few minutes, or less, and is followed by a
dormant, or induction, period (between I and II in Figure 6.1) of several hours
during which there is little further heat evolution. Subsequently, the rate of
hydration picks up again; during this second period of heat evolution, the
concrete sets and gains strength. The rate of heat evolution in this second period
reaches a peak (III in Figure 6.1) after 10-15 hours then, apart from possible
small increases at around 20 hours (IV in Figure 6.1) and 30-40 hours (V in
Figure 6.1), gradually tails off over the following days and weeks.
The main characteristics of the plot in Figure 6.1 can be interpreted as:
The initially high rate of heat evolution at I in Figure 6.1 is due mainly to
the hydration of the aluminate and alite phases and the hydration of
calcium sulfate hemihydrate to the dihydrate form (gypsum).
The rate of hydration then slows to a low level after a few minutes (II)
due to the deposition of hydration products on the surfaces of the cement
grains. During this dormant, or induction, period before the paste sets,
the concrete is plastic or flows freely.
Gradually, the rate of aluminate and alite hydration increases again and
belite also begins to hydrate (III).
Small subsequent increases in heat evolution (IV and V) are probably due
to ettringite formation and ferrite hydration respectively.
After a few days, the rate of heat evolution gradually tails off as the unhydrated
cement particles become scarcer, and as what cement remains is surrounded by
dense hydration product that slows any further reaction.
6.2 Hydration of cement: main types of hydration

product
We should first distinguish between setting and hardening. Setting is the
transition of the concrete, or cement paste, from a fluid to a rigid state. Initial
set and final set are terms commonly used to refer to setting characteristics
and are arbitrary definitions of early and later set. There are laboratory
procedures for determining these using weighted needles penetrating into the
cement paste.
Hardening refers to the increase in strength of the concrete. The rate of

hardening, the rate of increase in strength of the concrete, is independent of the
rate of setting. Rapid-hardening cement may have similar setting times to normal
ordinary Portland cement.
The cement paste sets when solid particles in the mix become tenuously
connected by the products of the hydration reactions, mainly ettringite and
calcium silicate hydrate. As time passes, the links between the solid particles -
the unhydrated cement particles, the hydration products and the aggregate -
become thicker and the concrete gains strength, or hardens, as hydration
products continue to form. These physical changes can be explained more fully
by first considering the hydration products that form as hydration proceeds.
The four main clinker minerals produce hydration products broadly as follows:
Alite: alite hydration produces calcium silicate hydrate gel plus a lot of
calcium hydroxide.
Belite: belite hydration produces calcium silicate hydrate gel plus,

perhaps, a little calcium hydroxide.
Aluminate: aluminate (C3A) hydration, in the presence of sufficient

sulfate, produces ettringite (more on this later), and other phases.
Ferrite: ferrite hydration also produces ettringite, together with other

phases.
Lets look at these cement hydration products in a little more detail.
Calcium silicate hydrate: calcium silicate hydrate is a gel, in other words an

amorphous or poorly-crystalline form of calcium silicate hydrate, that forms as a
result of the hydration of alite and of belite during normal cement hydration. It
may be conveniently shortened to C-S-H in cement chemistry notation; the
dashes indicate that no particular ratios of C, S and H are intended - writing it as
CSH would incorrectly indicate a 1:1:1 ratio of C, S and H respectively.
In Portland cement, the ratio of calcium to silicon in C-S-H is somewhat variable,

but typically approximately 2:1. Belite (C2S in the pure form) also has a Ca:Si
ratio of about 2:1 and it follows that C-S-H will be the principal product of belite
hydration, with little excess calcium or silicon available to produce other
hydration products. Usually, a small amount of calcium hydroxide is likely to
form.
In contrast, alite (C3S in the pure form) has a Ca:Si ratio of approximately 3:1.
Alite hydration will therefore result in excess calcium if the C-S-H that forms has
a Ca:Si ratio of 2:1. The excess calcium oxide produces calcium hydroxide by
reacting with water. Calcium silicate hydrate is the main strength-giving
component of hydrated Portland cement and it is therefore usually advantageous
to maximise the proportion of C-S-H produced.
Calcium hydroxide: calcium hydroxide, or CH in cement chemistry notation, is

produced primarily from the hydration of alite, as described above. CH will also
form from the hydration of free lime in the cement. It usually forms as hexagonal
plates, 1m-20m across, where it can grow freely in water. Dense growths of
CH can also infill pores and the hexagonal crystal shape is not then apparent.
Ettringite: when cement and water are first mixed, the aluminate phase reacts
with dissolved calcium sulfate to form ettringite. Ettringite, in cement chemistry
notation, has the formula:
_
C6AS3H32 or C3A.3CaSO4.32H2O (mixing cement chemistry and normal notation)
Ettringite crystals are generally thought to form a coating over the surfaces of
hydrating crystals of aluminate phase, acting as a temporary barrier to further
hydration. However, more recently, this classical interpretation of the process by
which aluminate hydration is retarded has been questioned and the mechanism
may be more complex. Nevertheless, the concept of retardation due to a coating
of ettringite or other hydration products over the surface of the cement grains is
simple and more than adequate for most purposes.
Ettringite forms initially as acicular crystals thin rods a micron or so in length.

Subsequently, these crystals may grow to perhaps 5m-10m if sufficient water-
filled space is available. These sparse, long and thin crystals of ettringite play an
important role in the setting of cement but are not sufficiently strong to
contribute greatly to compressive strength in normal Portland cement hydration.
Figure 6.2 SEM image of a fracture surface

of cement paste after two days hydration. The
important features in this image are the long,
thin, crystals of ettringite (e); the calcium
silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and the hexagonal
plates of calcium hydroxide (CH). Towards the
left of this image, the paste is porous, with
numerous capillary pores (see Chapter 6.4) up
to about 5m across, partly bridged by
hydration product growing from hydrating
cement particles (C). Towards the right of the
image, the C-S-H is much denser and most of
the pores are filled; evidently, the paste at the
right will be stronger than the paste at the
left. This picture illustrates a transitional stage
where some regions of the paste remain
porous and weak, while others are becoming
denser and stronger. After another day or so,
the paste at the left will resemble the paste at
the right, as the microstructure of the paste
as a whole becomes more uniformly dense.
Another important phase is:
Monosulfate phase: calcium monosulfate aluminate hydrate, abbreviated to

monosulfate, tends to form at later ages in concrete mixes, typically after 1-3
days. Monosulfate resembles ettringite in being a hydrated compound containing
calcium, aluminium and sulfur, but the proportions are different. Monosulfate can
be expressed as:
_
C4ASH12 or C3A.CaSO4.12H2O
The ratio of C3A:CaSO4 in monosulfate is therefore 1:1, whereas in ettringite it is

1:3. In the early stages of cement hydration, most of the clinker sulfate and the
gypsum is available for reaction, while much of the aluminate phase is contained
within the cement particles where it is protected from reaction with water.
Initially, therefore, the ratio of available sulfate to aluminate is high.
Subsequently, as more cement hydrates and the supply of gypsum and clinker
sulfate becomes exhausted, the ratio of available sulfate to aluminate decreases.
Monosulfate then forms instead of ettringite, and ettringite that has already
formed converts to monosulfate.
Monosulfate typically forms as thin platelets a few microns across.
6.3 Hydration of cement: further considerations

The foregoing describes the hydration products of a Portland cement composed of
clinker and interground gypsum only. For many years, such a cement was normal
and was specified in national standards.
More recently, the addition of small amounts of other materials to Portland

cement has been permitted in national standards, particularly fine limestone
interground with the clinker. Fine limestone affects cement hydration in two
principal ways:
Limestone is often regarded as being inert in a cementitious system but

this is incorrect; finely-ground limestone reacts with the cement and
contributes to the formation of the hydration products (1).
Fine limestone also has a physical effect on cement hydration through the
fine filler effect (Chapter 5.8).
In discussing cement hydration products, we've looked at ettringite and

monosulfate phase; to get a more complete view of cement hydration products,
we need to expand this a little.
6.3.1 AFm and AFt phases
Ettringite is one of a group of minerals termed AFt phases. Monosulfate is one of

another group termed AFm phases. In both of these groups, iron (the F in
AFm/AFt) can partially replace aluminium (the A).
The general composition of an AFt phase is:
C3(A,F).3CX.nH2O
where X represents a doubly-charged anion (eg: SO32-, CO22-). Singly-charged

anions may be accommodated to a limited extent. n is variable; n=32 for
ettringite.
The general composition of an AFm phase can be written as:
C3(A,F).CX2.nH2O (again, mixing cement and ordinary notation)
X represents an anion with a single negative charge (eg: Cl- or OH-) or half an
anion with a double negative charge (eg: SO32-, CO22-); n indicates that the
amount of water is variable, eg: n=12 (usually) for monosulfate.
For example, neglecting any iron substitution for aluminium:
if X were chloride, the formula for that form of AFm would be:
C3A.CaCl2.10H2O
if X were sulfate, the formula for that form of AFm would be:
C3A.CaSO4.12H2O
The m - or mono - in AFm refers to the single unit of CX2 in the formula for
AFm phases.
The t - or tri - in AFt refers to the triple unit of 3CX in the formula for AFt
phases.
For example, the most significant AFt phase in cement hydration is ettringite,
where X is sulfate. Neglecting any iron substitution for aluminium, the formula for
ettringite can be written as:
C3A.3CaSO4.32H2O
There are other AFt phases, but ettringite is overwhelmingly the most important.
Unless you are doing a PhD in cement hydrate composition, just note that there
might be other AFt phases present in small amounts, but otherwise forget about
them.
AFm phases are numerous; in the good old days when cement was just clinker
and gypsum we could assume the main AFm phase was monosulfate. Where
interground limestone is present in the cement, as it commonly now is, that
assumption is no longer true.
The most significant AFm phases in the context of cement hydration are:
_
Monosulfoaluminate, or monosulfate: C3A.CaSO4.12H2O or C4ASH12
_
Monocarboaluminate, or monocarbonate: C3A.CaCO3.11H2O or C4ACH11
_
Hemicarboaluminate, or hemicarbonate: C4C0.5H12
Hydroxy-AFm C4AH13
Just to summarise where we have got to so far, the main products of cement
hydration are:
Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H)
Calcium hydroxide (CH)
AFt phase
AFm phase(s)
Ettringite will be the main AFt phase, but which AFm phases are present in any
particular hydrated cement will depend on the balance between available alumina
and sulfate, and the availability of other ions, particularly carbonate. Temperature
may also have an effect.
For a typical Portland cement with no interground limestone or fine

limestone from aggregates, the main hydration products once the cement
has mostly hydrated (after, say, a month) will be calcium silicate hydrate
and calcium hydroxide. There will also be other minor phases, principally
AFm and AFt phases. Ettringite will be the AFt phase and monosulfate the
main AFm phase; how much of each there is will depend on the balance of
available sulfate and alumina.
For a typical Portland cement containing fine limestone, the main

hydration products once the cement has mostly hydrated will be calcium
silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide. There will also be other minor
phases, principally AFm and AFt phases. Ettringite will be the AFt phase.
AFm phases will be monosulfate and hemicarbonate, or hemicarbonate
and monocarbonate, or monocarbonate and residual fine limestone; how
much of each there is will depend on the balance of available sulfate,
carbonate and alumina. For more information, (much more information!)
see (2).
6.3.2 Flash set and false set
Soon after mixing, if insufficient sulfate is available from the added gypsum and
the clinker sulfates to slow the hydration of C3A, the resulting rapid hydration of
the C3A produces AFm phase in the form of hydroxy-AFm. These crystals link up
the particles (cement, aggregate, hydrates) in the mix and quickly cause the mix
to become unworkable. This is termed a flash set. The rapid hydration of the
C3A results in the evolution of much heat. Concrete strengths where flash setting
has occurred may be lower than normal.
If an excess of sulfate is present in the form of hemihydrate, the hemihydrate

dissolves and then reprecipitates as gypsum. Again, this causes a rapid set due
to the linking of the particles in the mix. However, unlike flash set, there is no
rapid evolution of heat because C3A hydration is inhibited by the sulfate. Another
difference between false set and flash set is that a false set may be reversed if
continued mixing can break up the gypsum crystals bonding the solids. The
resulting gypsum fragments then slowly dissolve and the concrete should set
normally and show fairly normal strength growth.
6.3.3 Hydration of cement: other hydration products
As described above, aluminate hydration in the absence of sufficient

available sulfate in the cement pore fluid rapidly produces AFm phase in
the form of hydroxy-AFm (C4AH13); this results in a flash set.
Ferrite hydration may result in the formation of iron hydroxide or a phase

called hydrogarnet. Alternatively, the iron from ferrite hydration may enter
AFm phase; there is not complete agreement in the literature on this.
Minerals similar to hydrotalcite (a hydrated and carbonated aluminium

magnesium hydroxide) are likely to form in mixes containing slag, or, in
very small quantities, in Portland cements of high MgO content.
6.3.4 Description of cement hydration
Suppose we have a cement that contains just Portland cement clinker

interground with gypsum. We add water at time t=0:
t=0: at the instant of mixing, the mix contains water and unhydrated particles of
cement.
t=a few minutes-a few hours: when mixed with water, there is a high initial
rate of reaction for a short period as aluminate and alite hydrate. Sulfate from
the gypsum and clinker sulfate starts to dissolve and an amorphous gel
containing alumina, lime, sulfate and silica forms. Small crystals of ettringite also
form. A period of lower activity follows (the dormant period). The initial set
typically occurs at about 2 hours and hydration restarts in earnest after 3-6
hours.
t=6-12 hours: Alite hydration produces C-S-H and large crystals of calcium
hydroxide (CH) up to 10m or more across. Continued aluminate hydration
produces larger rod-like ettringite crystals. C-S-H forms dense shells around
cement grains and a delicate sheet structure bridging the water-filled gaps
between the cement grains. By this time, the concrete has set but it has little
strength.
A small fluid-filled gap less than a micron across appears between the surface of
the unhydrated cement grain and the surrounding dense shell of C-S-H. The
cement reacts in two ways. Firstly, it reacts by a process of dissolution at the
surface of the reacting cement grain, with dissolved material passing through the
coating and reprecipitating in the large water-filled gaps between the cement
grains. Secondly, cement hydrates in-situ; this means that hydration product
(mainly C-S-H) forms within the volume occupied by the cement particle. Often,
the crystal shapes of former and alite and belite crystals can be seen in
microscopic examination of polished sections where the alite and belite have
been replaced entirely by C-S-H.
t=1-3 days: after a day or so, most of the available sulfate has been used, but
aluminate phase continues to hydrate. This causes a gradual change in the ratio
of available sulfate to aluminate, causing a change from ettringite formation to
monosulfate formation. In ettringite, the aluminium: sulfur ratio is 2:3 whereas
in monosulfate it is 2:1. With this decrease in sulfate availability, platey crystals
of monosulfate start to form instead of ettringite. After a few days, the ettringite
already present begins to decompose and is replaced by monosulfate. C-S-H and
CH continue to form in the large water-filled gaps between the cement grains;
the concrete gains strength as the C-S-H in the large water-filled gaps becomes
denser.
t=3 days onwards: the small gap between the anhydrous cement and the
dense C-S-H coating starts to fill. Smaller cement grains have fully reacted.
Once the small gap between the anhydrous cement grain and surrounding dense
shell has filled, reaction between the solid cement grain and the solid shell of
hydration product continues at a slower rate. Consequently, C-S-H and CH
formation in the large water-filled gaps between the cement grains continues also
at a slower rate and strength development continues at a slower rate reflecting
the slower C-S-H formation.
As alite becomes depleted, belite hydration begins to contribute more to strength

gain. Belite hydration produces C-S-H but little CH. The ratio of Si/Ca in C-S-H is
approximately 0.50-0.60. By about 4 weeks, hydration and further strength gain
continues but at an ever-slowing rate. The hydration products at four weeks are
not quite the final products but are approaching them. After a year, any further
change will be very slow; most of the available sulfate is present in monosulfate
phase but a small excess of sulfate allows a little ettringite to persist.
6.4 Hydration of cement: paste microstructure and

water/cement ratio
The water/cement ratio is a crucial parameter in cement hydration because it

directly affects porosity and permeability. Consequently, the water/cement ratio
influences concrete strength and resistance to water ingress, frost attack,
leaching and other detrimental chemical and physical processes. The water-
cement ratio (often abbreviated to w/c) is defined as:
(Mass of water)/(mass of cement)
Most concrete has a w/c ratio between 0.3 and 0.7.
With increasing water/cement ratios, the paste fraction of the concrete becomes
increasingly porous. This has two direct consequences:
The paste becomes weaker due to the increased porosity.
The paste becomes more permeable because the pores are

interconnected.
These effects are apparent in the sequence of four images that follow, showing
cement pastes made using different water/cement ratios. However, in order to
understand these, it is useful to be able to identify the different features visible in
SEM images of polished sections of cement paste. Look first at Figure 6.3; this
image shows one of the images in the sequence that follows in Figures 6.4-6.7,
but with the different features indicated.
Figure 6.3 Polished section of cement paste,

age 2 years, made using ordinary Portland
cement, w/c=0.40. Key: c - unhydrated
cement; C-S-H - calcium silicate hydrate; CH
calcium hydroxide; p pore; Circle A contains
C-S-H, CH and is assumed also to contain AFm
and AFt phases. CH is just visible, AFm and AFt
are not visible as they are too small.
The cement paste shown in Figure 6.3 contains the following features:
Partly-reacted cement particles (c); the remaining unhydrated material

appears very bright in the SEM image. These particles have reacted to a
considerable extent, as shown by the dense rims, composed mainly of C-
S-H, that surround them.
The outer edges of these rims indicate the approximate size of the original
cement particle and the hydration products composing the rims have
therefore formed within the volume occupied by the original cement
particle. The hydrated material in these rims is therefore called inner
product or in-situ hydration product. Although it looks solid and dense
in the image, calcium silicate hydrate is a gel and contains huge numbers
of tiny pores, called gel pores, approximately 1 nm across (1 nm=10-9 m).
At this magnification, the gel pores are far too small to be distinguished.
Elsewhere in Figure 6.3, there are smaller areas of dense C-S-H,

corresponding to smaller cement particles that have fully hydrated.
Also visible are areas of calcium hydroxide (CH) these appear slightly
brighter than the C-S-H but darker than the unhydrated cement.
Circle A contains CH (just visible) and also C-S-H. AFt and AFm phases
(probably ettringite and monosulfate) are also likely to be present but are
too small to be seen at this magnification. The hydration products in Circle
A have formed in a region that was occupied by water when the cement
and water were mixed; these hydration products formed from the
precipitation of dissolved material are known as outer product or
undifferentiated hydration product.
Of particular importance in Figure 6.3 are the small black features; these
are capillary pores. Capillary pores generally range in size from a few tens
of microns down to less than 1 m; these are the remnants of the volume
originally occupied by water when the cement and water were first mixed,
most of this original water-filled volume having been filled by cement
hydration products. The pores became filled with epoxy resin when the
polished section was prepared and so the black features are actually
epoxy resin, but the extent of the resin shows the extent of the original
pore system.
The capillary pores in Figure 6.3 are generally small, up to about 5 m across,
and not very numerous. They appear not to be connected, but it is important to
remember when looking at polished sections that the third dimension is not
shown and that pores may be connected out of the plane of the section. In this
case, the pores clearly are interconnected, or they could not have become filled
with epoxy resin.
Now that you know what you are seeing in these images of cement paste, try
looking at the four images in Figures 6.4-6.7.
Changing the water/cement ratio has clearly altered the microstructure of the
pastes. Pastes made with different water/cement ratios contain similar features
to those shown in Figure 6.3, but the proportions are different.
Firstly, look at the image in Figure 6.5; this is familiar as the same image as in
Figure 6.3, but without all the labels getting in the way of parts of the picture.
Now look at the image in Figure 6.4, the paste with the lowest water/cement
ratio (0.33). As in Figure 6.3, the brightest features are unhydrated cement;
these particles contain all four main clinker minerals. The capillary pores (black,
as in Figure 6.3) are not numerous and are generally small (<2m-3m).
Now compare the pastes with the lowest and highest water/cement ratios to see
the greatest contrast (Figure 6.4, w/c = 0.33, and Figure 6.7, w/c = 0.60). Two
features are immediately clear: at the higher water/cement ratio, the capillary
pores are larger (up to about 10m) and very numerous, and there is less
unhydrated cement.
Figure 6.4 Polished section of cement Figure 6.5 Polished section of cement
paste, age 2 years, made using ordinary paste, age 2 years, made using ordinary
Portland cement, w/c=0.33. Portland cement, w/c=0.40.
Figure 6.6 Polished section of cement Figure 6.7 Polished section of cement
paste, age 2 years, made using ordinary paste, age 2 years, made using ordinary
Portland cement, w/c=0.50. Portland cement, w/c=0.60.
Most of the unhydrated cement in Figure 6.7 is ferrite phase; almost all of the
alite, belite and aluminate has hydrated. CH fills some of the pores and occupies
extensive areas; several regions of CH in Figure 6.7 are 50m long and about
5m wide.
Compared with the pastes made using the lowest and highest water/cement
ratios, the pastes shown in Figures 6.5 (w/c = 0.40) and Figure 6.6 (w/c = 0.50)
are intermediate in both porosity and proportion of residual unhydrated cement.
While we cant, or course, actually measure strength from an image, it appears

highly probable that the paste shown in Figure 6.4 will have the highest
compressive strength, with the pastes in Figures 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7 having
progressively lower strengths as the porosity increases.
Additionally, the more porous pastes are likely to be more permeable, assuming
the pores are interconnected (which they mostly will be). Increased permeability
will mean that the concrete is less resistant to deleterious processes such as frost
damage, sulfate attack or chloride ingress.
In summary, as the water/cement ratio increases:
The porosity of the cement paste increases.
The permeability of the cement paste increases.
The compressive strength of the paste decreases.
The proportion of residual unhydrated cement decreases.
Higher water/cement ratio concrete mixes are more convenient when placing the
concrete, as it flows more easily. However, the effects on the cement paste listed
above show that the consequences for the hardened concrete are strongly
negative.
6.5 Hydration of cement: pore structure of cement paste

and the Powers-Brownyard model
Several models have been proposed to quantify the physical properties of
hardened cement paste. The classical model, by Powers and Brownyard (1947),
provides a valuable insight into cement paste (3).
What follows is a brief summary; for a fuller discussion of the Powers-Brownyard

model, see (4).
The Powers-Brownyard model simplifies the cement paste into three components:
Unreacted cement
Hydration product
Capillary pores
Remember, this is a simplified model developed over 60 years ago. The hydration
product was referred to as cement gel and the model did not consider the
individual hydration products separately; neither did it consider the individual
clinker minerals. As the crystalline components of the hydration product (eg:
calcium hydroxide, ettringite) are clearly not a gel, to avoid confusion we will
follow Taylors suggestion and use the term hydration product where Powers and
Brownyard used cement gel.
The model assumes that, when water and cement is mixed, initially we have just
cement and water. Then, hydration products form and we have cement, hydration
product and capillary pores. As the cement continues to hydrate, the capillary
porosity decreases, the quantity of unhydrated cement decreases and the
amount of hydration product increases. As the quantity of hydration product
increases, the total gel porosity also increases.
Experimental evidence indicated to Powers and Brownyard that the hydration

product, as considered by the model, did not change much regardless of the
degree of cement hydration or of the water/cement ratio. Based on experiments
in which the non-evaporable water content was measured on a large number of
cement pastes made using different water/cement ratios cured for different
times, Powers and Brownyard used the model to calculate some useful values:
The ratio of the volume of hydration product to the volume of cement

from which it was produced is 2.20.
The porosity of the hydration product is 28%-30%.
Since the volume of cement paste does not change markedly during
hydration, and since the hydration product occupies more space than does
the cement that produced it, it follows that there is a minimum value of
w/c below which full hydration cannot occur. This value is approximately
w/c=0.38, assuming that additional water for curing is available. This is
known as the critical water-cement ratio, or w/c*.
At values below the critical water-cement ratio, complete hydration cannot occur
because there is no available space in which additional hydration product can
form. While a critical w/c value of about 0.38 is regarded as generally about
right, at least one team of researchers has shown complete hydration at a
significantly lower w/c ratio (5). Cement wouldn't be so interesting if it weren't
for occasional reminders that maybe we don't understand it as well as we
thought.
If a cement paste is cured in a sealed container, with no additional water

available for curing, hydration will cease below a water-cement ratio of 0.44
because insufficient water is available for continued hydration. This process is
termed self-desiccation.
Above w/c=0.44, there is sufficient water for complete hydration and also enough
space in which the hydration products can form, so in principle, the cement can
hydrate fully.
In practice, some residual unhydrated cement may persist for years, or

indefinitely, even in concrete of higher w/c ratios. These cement particles are
generally the remains of large cement grains (>50m) which have acquired a
thick, dense coating of hydrates, preventing water ingress for further hydration.
To summarise, the Powers-Brownyard model predicts that below a w/c ratio of

0.44 there will always be some residual unhydrated cement if no water additional
to the original mix water was available during curing. If additional water is
available, complete hydration is possible down to a w/c of 0.38, below which

there will always be some unhydrated cement remaining. These values are
regarded as being approximately correct for most cements but there will
inevitably be some variation.
As discussed above, the Powers-Brownyard model is a simplification of true paste

microstructure as it does not distinguish between the different hydration products
of which the paste is composed. The gel porosity, for example, is mostly
contained within the C-S-H. Despite the limitations of the model, it has been
useful for over seventy years. Other models of cement paste structure have been
proposed; see (6) for a summary.
6.6 Some physical properties of cementitious materials

Of course, it is the physical properties of concrete that are actually useful, or
sometimes problematic. In this context, we are thinking of dimensional stability
in normal concrete, not in concrete that is affected by deleterious processes.
Two properties are immediately obvious: how concrete behaves while it is being
mixed and placed, and the strength of the hardened concrete.
A third, permeability, has an important bearing on concrete durability.
These three properties are huge subjects in their own right. What follows is the
briefest of introductions but references are given where more detail can be found
if needed.
6.6.1 Concrete workability
Workability is used loosely to describe the physical behaviour of freshly-mixed

concrete. This includes all the things that are done to wet concrete, principally
mixing it, moving it from one place to another, placing it and compacting it.
Workability can be defined in terms of the energy required to overcome the
friction between the particles in the concrete in order to achieve full compaction.
However, this wouldn't be at all easy to measure and so empirical tests are used,
in particular the slump test.
In the slump test, a conical mould containing the concrete is emptied onto a flat
surface. The extent to which the concrete subsides is measured and is referred to
as the slump. Higher numbers mean the concrete is more workable.
Figure 6.8 Concrete slump test 1: the Figure 6.9 Concrete slump test 2: excess
slump cone is filled with concrete in three concrete is removed by rolling the tamping
stages, using a steel rod, the tamping rod, rod across the top of the cone. (Picture
to ensure good compaction. (Picture courtesy Kirton Concrete Services Ltd., UK).
courtesy Kirton Concrete Services Ltd., UK).
Figure 6.10 Concrete slump test 3: the Figure 6.11 Concrete slump test 4:
cone is lifted and the concrete slides out. measuring the slump the distance
Note the curved shape of the concrete between the centre of the concrete cone and
where it has slumped and the gap the tamping rod. (Picture courtesy Kirton
between the top of the concrete and the Concrete Services Ltd., UK).
tamping rod resting on the cone; the size of
this gap indicates the slump of the concrete.
(Picture courtesy Kirton Concrete Services
Ltd., UK).
Workability is important because it indicates how easily concrete can be

compacted; in other words, how easily all the small air voids in the concrete can
be removed to achieve maximum density. Obtaining the maximum possible
density of the wet mix is important to maximise the strength of the hardened
concrete and its resistance to deterioration.
The main factor affecting the workability of a concrete mix is the water content -
as more water is added, the mix becomes sloppier. Other factors include:
aggregate grading; the shape of the particles (rounded particles will obviously
move past each other more freely); the ratio of aggregate to cement (as the
proportion of cement paste increases, the contact between aggregate particles
will decrease) and the rheology of the cement paste component of the mix. In
turn, the rheology of the cement paste will depend on the water/cement ratio,
the fineness of the cement and whether any water-reducing admixtures are
present.
It is clear that, since the term workability refers to the mobility of the concrete
mix, workability is relevant from the time the concrete is mixed, through placing
to when it is compacted. Once the concrete starts to stiffen as it sets at the end
of the induction, or dormant, period, the workability will decrease. If more water
is added to increase workability again, concrete strengths will be reduced and the
concrete will be less durable.
See Reference 7 for more on workability.
6.6.2 Concrete strength
Applied to concrete, strength usually means compressive strength. Concrete is

much stronger under compression than it is under tension. Compressive
strengths of concrete have been traditionally measured by crushing cubes or
cylinders of concrete at particular ages under controlled conditions.
Under the European cement standard EN-197, strengths for purposes of

compliance with the standard are measured by testing mortar prisms, not
concrete cubes. Concrete made from the cement will still be subjected to
traditional cube or cylinder tests when delivered to a construction site.
The plot in Figure 6.12 is an illustrative example of concrete strength for the first
three months after curing.
50
40
)
-2
30
20
Strength (N mm
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time (days)
Figure 6.12 Example of concrete strength growth curve.

The shape of the curve and the strengths attained will be
subject to many different factors.
Many factors influence concrete strength. In the first few days after mixing, the
age of the concrete is one of the most critical. Other factors at all ages in
addition to water/cement ratio include: how well the concrete was compacted;
temperature of the concrete when placed and during early curing; subsequent
curing temperature; aggregate/cement ratio; factors relating to the aggregate
such as the aggregate grading, particle shape and strength; strength of the
aggregate-paste bond.
The water/cement ratio is normally considered the single most important factor.
Concrete strength increases as its density increases. The porosity of the concrete
is therefore of prime importance; as porosity increases, the density and strength
both decrease. Assuming the aggregate is of low porosity, the porosity of the
paste is the main remaining variable factor.
See Reference 8 for more on concrete strength.
6.6.3 Concrete permeability
Concrete can be permeated by gases and liquids. Permeability is important

principally because an increase in permeability is likely to result in an increase in
the rate of concrete deterioration due to chemical attack or by freezing.
Assuming the aggregate to be impermeable and that no cracks are present, the
only route of ingress is the cement paste. Paste contains capillary pores and gel
pores but it is the system of capillary pores that controls the permeability of the
paste; while the gel pores represent about 30% of the volume of the hydration
product, the gel pores themselves are too small to affect permeability.
The size of the capillary pores, and the extent to which they are interconnected,
depends mainly on the water/cement ratio of the paste. At early ages of
hydration, it will also depend on the degree of cement hydration. From the
images of pastes in Figures 6.4-6.7 it is clear that capillary porosity is reduced as
the water/cement ratio decreases.
Minimising the porosity by minimising the water/cement ratio will help to improve
concrete durability because its permeability will be lower.
See Reference 9 for more on concrete permeability.
6.6.4 Other factors
Three other factors affecting concrete dimensional stability are also important in
the context of cement, as they are influenced or controlled by processes
occurring within the cement paste. These are elasticity, shrinkage and shrinkage
cracking, and creep; all are affected by humidity or water movement within the
paste, and within the C-S-H in particular.
While important, these subjects are more within the domain of engineers and the
design of concrete structures. If you would like to read more on these specifically,
see Reference 10 below.
1. The role of calcium carbonate in cement hydration. T Matschei, B

Lothenbach and F P Glasser, Cement and Concrete Research 37 (2007)
551-558.
2. The AFm phase in Portland cement. T Matschei, B Lothenbach and F P

Glasser, Cement and Concrete Research 37 (2007) 118-130.
3. T C Powers and T L Brownyard, Journal American Concrete Institute

(Proceedings), 1947, Vol 43.
4. Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, pub. Thomas Telford, 2nd edition 1997,

pp231-236.
5. M Rossler and I Odler, (1985) Cement and Concrete Research Vol 15,
p320.
6. Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, Thomas Telford, 2nd ed. 1997, pp235-

237.
7. Properties of Concrete, A M Neville, pub. Prentice Hall, 4th edition 1995,

Chapter 4
8. Neville, Chapter 6.

259.
10. Neville, Chapter 9.
7 Composite Cements
7.1 Introduction
7.1.1 Background
Composite cements, also known as blended cements, contain Portland cement

and other reactive inorganic material that contributes significantly to the
hydration products formed. The additional reactive material may be described
variously as an extender, a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) or as a
mineral addition. It may be interground with the cement clinker or blended later
at the concrete plant or on site.
The most common examples of mineral additions are:
Fly ash (pulverised fuel ash, pfa)
Blastfurnace slag (granulated blastfurnace slag, pelletised slag, gbs)
Limestone
Mineral additions such as these have been incorporated in cement blends for
many years, initially for reasons of economy, then for the significant
improvements obtained in concrete performance in particular situations, such as
improved strength or durability.
To avoid confusion between the ratio of water to Portland cement, in any

discussion of water-cement ratio in composite cements, the expression
water/solid ratio (w/s) or something similar, should be used to mean the ratio of
water to total cementitious materials.
Recently, the environmental benefits of using these materials have become

increasingly important. Often, as with fly ash and slag, they are byproducts from
other processes that would otherwise probably go to landfill. The use of
composite cements can bring technical benefits in terms of improved concrete
properties and these will be discussed below in the section for each of the
different materials considered. While their use may well be beneficial, there can
Composite Cements
also be some potential difficulties with their use.
Well look at limestone last, as it is rather different from other mineral additions,
not being either latently hydraulic or pozzolanic.
7.1.2 Difference between pozzolanic and latently hydraulic

mineral additions
Some types of mineral addition are known as latently hydraulic; these are
slightly reactive in water but are more reactive when activated by an alkaline
material such as lime or cement. The most commonly-used mineral addition of
this type is slag.
Other materials are pozzolanic; these do not react with water but do react with
water and lime or cement. They are generally deficient in lime and so need the
addition of lime to form calcium silicate hydrate.
Examples of pozzolanic materials are fly ash, microsilica, metakaolin (calcined

kaolinite or china clay) and volcanic glass.
Crushed fired clay (brick, tile) and volcanic glass are materials known since
Roman times to benefit concrete and mortar. Volcanic glass is a natural pozzolan
and is widely used where it is available and is recognised by some national
standard specifications (eg: EN 196-1). Calcined clay and shale are used as
mineral additions, but crushed brick and similar materials have gone out of
general use.
7.1.3 Effects of mineral additions on hydration products and

paste microstructure
Mineral additions can increase final concrete strengths compared with mixes
containing only Portland cement, when used in suitable proportions. The strength
increase is principally because the mineral additions increase the total amount of
calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) in the hydration product; since it is the C-S-H
that is mainly responsible for strength growth, if the proportion of C-S-H can be
increased it is likely that strengths will also increase, other factors being equal.
Curing temperature can also have a significant effect. Concrete cured at low
temperatures develops strength more slowly than concrete cured at higher
temperatures; however, the final strength of the concrete cured at lower
temperature is generally higher. The reason for this is not fully understood but
appears to be related to how the microstructure of the paste develops.
Large pours of concrete can reach high temperatures (60 C+) due to the heat of
hydration of the cement. By using mineral additions to replace some of the
Portland cement, the heat of hydration is reduced because the mineral additions
are less reactive than Portland cement. The concrete doesnt get as hot and the
final strengths are higher.
Composite Cements
Compared with Portland cement, the ratio of Si/Ca in slag is higher; in low-lime
fly ash it is much higher. Microsilica and metakaolin contain little or no calcium.
Inclusion of any of these reactive mineral additions in cement therefore increases
the amount of silica available for the formation of hydration products compared
with a Portland cement-only mix. The additional silica combines with calcium
hydroxide (CH) in the paste, producing more C-S-H, and the Si/Ca ratio of the
C-S-H itself increases, permitting the formation of yet more C-S-H.
Comparison of porosities in pastes made with Portland cement only, and with
composite cements, is complex. Mineral additions generally react more slowly
than does Portland cement. At the same w/s ratio, the porosity of pastes made
with mineral additions is generally higher because a lower proportion of the
mineral addition will have reacted compared with the Portland cement it replaced.
This is particularly so at early ages. At later ages, enhanced C-S-H production in
composite cements will tend to partly compensate.
However, the permeability to water of pastes made with Portland cement only is
generally higher than those made with composite cements, provided the pastes
are old enough for an adequate proportion of the mineral addition to have
reacted.
How a paste made with a composite cement can have a higher porosity but a
lower permeability is not fully understood, but is probably related to the degree
of interconnection of the pores. Pores in Portland cement-only pastes appear to
be more continuous than pores in pastes made with composite cements. This
may be because the morphology of the C-S-H changes as the Si/Ca ratio
increases (1), with the formation of isolated voids.
Slag and fly ash, in addition to contributing silica to form additional C-S-H, also
contain a higher proportion of alumina compared with Portland cement. This
increases the proportion of hydrate phases containing aluminium, principally AFm
phase, but also hydrotalcite where slag is used due to the increased MgO content
of the slag. AFm phases may make some contribution to strength by reducing
paste porosity, but the extent to which they actually increase strength is unclear.
AFm phases are beneficial in that they can block capillary pores in the paste,
reducing permeability. As well as physically blocking pores, AFm phases also
chemically bind some ingressing dissolved anions, particularly chloride, and this
helps to reduce corrosion of steel reinforcement.
Increasing the AFm content of the paste will evidently bind some lime in the
additional AFm, which is then not available for C-S-H formation. However,
provided the ratio Si/Al > ~1 in the mineral addition, there should be a net gain
of C-S-H. In slag, the Si/Al atom ratio of the glassy fraction is typically between
2:1 and 3:1. In low-lime fly ash, the bulk Si/Al is typically approximately 1.5:1
but this includes alumina bound in unreactive crystals such as mullite; the Si/Al
ratio in the reactive glass will be higher.
Composite Cements
7.1.4 Summary of benefits of using mineral additions
The advantages of using mineral additions may be summarised as:
Improvement in some aspects of concrete performance
Possible reduction in costs by the use of a byproduct or waste material.
Reduction in the volume of material sent to landfill.
Reduction in the rate of depletion of raw materials used to produce

Portland cement.
Reduction in the energy required for production of cementitious materials

per unit volume of concrete.
Reduction in the total carbon dioxide emissions per unit volume of

concrete.
Most of the above are self-evident. Figures for the CO2 emissions for Portland
cement production vary widely but are generally gradually declining as the
cement producers make efforts to lower them; somewhere between 800-1000 kg
tonne-1 probably covers the majority of production.
Taking the United Kingdom as an example, figures for the indicative embodied
CO2 (ECO2) for the main cementitious materials in concrete have been agreed by
the cement, slag and ash industries (2), based on data from 2007 for the
calculations (Table 7.1).
Table 7.1 Indicative embodied CO2 for cementitious constituents of concrete (source UK
Quality Ash Association).
Material Embodied CO2 (kg CO2 tonne-1)
Portland cement (CEM I) 930
Ground granulated blastfurnace slag 52
Fly ash (from coal burning power generation) 4
Limestone 32
These illustrative figures demonstrate that significant savings in CO2 emissions

can be achieved by the use of mineral additions. The actual savings will obviously
depend on the level of replacement of Portland cement. Figures for factory-
produced cements (3) show ECO2 varying from 930 kg CO2 tonne-1 for Portland
cement (CEM I) to 420-590 kg CO2 tonne-1 for pozzolanic cement made using
siliceous fly ash (CEM IV/B-V cement). Cements containing other combinations of
cementitious materials have intermediate ECO2 figures.
Composite Cements
7.1.5 Potential problems of using mineral additions
Although the final strength of mixes containing composite cements can be higher
than equivalent Portland cement-only mixes, the rate of strength growth is
usually lower, as the rate of reaction of the mineral addition is less than that of
Portland cement. Possible exceptions are microsilica and metakaolin, both of
which are very reactive.
The slower strength gain is important for two reasons:
More care is needed in concrete curing, and the overall curing time will be
longer.
Concrete is generally specified for 28-day strength. For an equivalent 28-

day strength to a concrete made with Portland cement only, if the
cementitious material includes mineral additions it may be necessary to
use a higher content of cementitious material.
A higher total cementitious content (ie: Portland cement plus slag, flyash etc.)
would probably be needed for equivalent 28-day strength if fly ash were used, or
if slag replaced more than 30%-50% of the Portland cement. However, many
variables can have an effect, including the total cementitious content of the
concretes being compared, aggregate type and any admixtures used.
Much may also depend on the concrete curing temperature. Test data on cubes,
cylinders and prisms obtained at ambient temperatures (usually 20 C) may not
accurately reflect strengths in large pours of concrete where the heat of
hydration has raised the temperature of the concrete.
Using mineral additions may make the concrete more susceptible to carbonation
(Chapter 9.3) because depletion of calcium hydroxide from the cement paste to
produce additional C-S-H lowers the alkalinity of the pore fluid. To some extent,
this susceptibility is offset by the lower permeability to CO2 of concretes
containing mineral additions.
7.2 Blastfurnace slag
7.2.1 Blastfurnace slag composition
Slag used in concrete is a by-product of iron smelting. Limestone is added as a

flux during smelting to combine with silica and other impurities in the iron ore. If
the resulting liquid is tapped off and cooled rapidly, it produces a latently-
hydraulic glass. If the liquid is cooled slowly, an unreactive crystalline material is
produced, known as air-cooled slag, and is used as an aggregate.
Composite Cements
Slag used in concrete is largely composed of a calcium aluminosilicate glass,

often with some crystalline phases, particularly gehlenite (C2AS) and merwinite
(CMS2). The crystalline fraction is unreactive.
When allowed to cool slowly the crystalline content of the slag increases, with a
consequent decrease in hydraulicity. Rapid cooling is generally achieved by one
of two methods:
Granulated blastfurnace slag is produced by pouring liquid slag into a high

volume of water (Figure 7.1); the water may be running through a trough,
or it may be a still pond. The resulting cooled slag generally contains
90%-98% glass.
Pelletised slag is produced by pouring the liquid slag onto a rotating drum
cooled by water (Figure 7.2). The slag breaks into pellets and is propelled
through the air in a chamber full of water spray. Pelletised slag used in
concrete generally has a lower glass content than granulated slag,
typically 70%-90%.
A small amount (~5%) of crystalline material in slag may be beneficial; increases

in the crystalline content of the slag up to a total of about one-third may result in
only a slight loss of concrete strength (4).
Chemical moduli have been used to evaluate slags. For example, British Standard
BS EN 15167-1: 2006 specifies that (CaO+MgO)/(SiO2)>=1 and that
CaO+MgO+SiO2 must be at least 2/3 the total mass. An earlier version, BS6699:
1986 used the modulus (CaO+MgO+Al2O3)/(SiO2) >=1.
Figure 7.1 Production of granulated blastfurnace slag: left - a fast-moving stream of

water; right - molten slag flows into the water stream and is quenched (courtesy Hanson
Cement).
Composite Cements
Figure 7.2 Principle of production of pelletised slag (courtesy Hanson Cement).
Figure 7.3 Granulated blastfurnace slag, Figure 7.4 SEM image of granulated
before grinding. blastfurnace slag (gbs) after grinding.
Composite Cements
Slag is an impure calcium aluminosilicate glass (Table 7.1).
Table 7.1 Chemical composition of a typical blastfurnace slag used in concrete in the UK,
(source: Hanson Cement, UK).
SiO2 Al2O3 FeO CaO MgO K2O Na2O S2- LOI Total
36.0 13.0 0.5 40.0 8.0 0.5 0.3 0.8 0.5 99.6
Balance is due to minor oxides, typically P2O5, MnO, TiO2, and possibly a trace of SO3.
Because of the need for precise control of the iron production process, the slag
from a given source tends to have a consistent composition. As used in cement,
the material is essentially a crushed glass and so the composition varies little
between individual particles.
Whether a slag is suitable for use as a cementitious material in a composite

cement depends mainly on how reactive the material is. Reactivity will depend
particularly on the composition of the glassy fraction, total glass content and the
particle size to which the material is ground, but the relationships are not
straightforward.
For example, a fast-cooled slag with a high glass content will have the same bulk
composition as a slag from the same liquid that was cooled more slowly.
However, the composition of the glassy fraction will be different because the
composition of the liquid will have changed during cooling as crystals formed
from the melt. The glassy fractions of the two slags cooled at different rates may
therefore have different reactivities.
7.2.2 Blastfurnace slag as a cementitious material
When used as a mineral addition, slag typically comprises 20%-70% of the total
cementitious material, although higher levels are used for specific applications.
The main technical benefits of using slag in a composite cement are:
Will give higher later strengths, but generally lower early strengths.
Reduced concrete permeability.
Improved durability (sulfate resistance; reduced likelihood of alkali-silica

reaction; reduced chloride penetration).
Lower heat of hydration reduces risk of thermally-induced cracking.
Lighter colour of concrete.
In addition, the general benefits of using composite cements discussed in

Chapter 7.1 apply to the use of slag, especially the following:
Composite Cements
Using slag reduces the rate of depletion of raw materials used to produce
Portland cement.
Using slag reduces the energy required for production of cementitious

materials per unit volume of concrete.
Using slag reduces the total carbon dioxide emissions per unit volume of
concrete.
Lets look at these in a little more detail:
Strengths
Partial replacement of Portland cement by slag generally results in lower early
strengths, due to the slower rate of reaction of the slag. Later strengths should
be higher in a suitably-designed mix. In mature concrete, more residual
unhydrated slag is likely to persist than unhydrated Portland cement in an
equivalent mix. After a year, perhaps 50%-75% may have reacted, but the actual
figure will be dependent on factors including the w/s ratio, the intrinsic reactivity
of the slag, the proportion of slag in the mix and the fineness of the slag. Higher
later strengths, in a properly designed and executed mix, are mainly due to
enhanced C-S-H formation.
Permeability and durability

Mature concrete made with cement containing slag is generally of lower
permeability to water than concrete made with Portland cement only; this should
give improved durability. Chloride and sulfate penetration should be lower, so
chloride-induced steel corrosion or sulfate attack are less likely in a well-designed
and implemented concrete mix. Alkali silica reaction (ASR) is also less likely,
partly because partial replacement of PC by slag reduces the total available alkali
but also because slag hydration lowers the calcium hydroxide content and the
alkalinity of the cement pore fluid.
Heat of hydration
Compared with Portland cement, slag typically hydrates more slowly as it is a
less-reactive material. The heat of hydration of a composite cement containing
slag is therefore less than that of a comparable PC-only mix. Both the rate of
heat evolution and the total heat evolved are lower in mixes where Portland
cement is partially replaced with slag.
Colour
The grey colour of Portland cement is due to the ferrite phase. Slag does not
normally contain ferrite or other strongly-coloured minerals so partial
replacement of Portland cement with slag should result in a lighter colour of
concrete. Although slag powder is almost colourless, fresh fracture surfaces of
concrete containing slag are usually a blue-green colour. This is thought to be
due to sulfide from the slag entering the hydration products, probably the AFm
phase. After a few days, the blue-green colour fades as the sulfide oxidises.
Composite Cements
7.2.3 Hydration products in mixes containing slag
The hydration products in a composite cement containing Portland cement and

slag are similar to those of Portland cement. There is likely to be more C-S-H and
less CH, and the C-S-H will have a higher Si/Ca ratio. Because of the additional
available alumina from slag hydration, most sulfate is likely to be contained in
AFm phase and there may be little or no ettringite, unless fine limestone is also
present (Chapters 6.3 and 12.2).
Hydrotalcite (see Chapter 6.3): ([Mg0.75 Al 0.25 OH)2](CO3)0.125(H2O)0.5
is likely to be present in small quantities; it may also occur in small amounts in

an ordinary Portland cement mix if the MgO content of the cement is high. Its
effect on strength will probably be negligible, but it will slightly alter the balance
between available sulfate and alumina and so could affect the relative proportions
of AFm phases (eg; monosulfate: hydroxy-AFm: monocarbonate) and ettringite.
7.3 Low-lime fly ash

Fly ash (pulverised fuel ash, or pfa) is produced by power stations burning
pulverised coal and is the non-combustible mineral residue separated from the
flue gas. The composition of the ash will evidently depend on the minerals
present in the coal.
7.3.1 Fly ash composition
Low-lime fly ash used in Europe typically contains high proportions of silica and
alumina (Table 7.2) and contains a high proportion of glass. This broadly
corresponds to a Class F ash in the USA.
Table 7.2 Chemical composition of a low-lime fly ash used in concrete (UK-sourced
ash).
SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO K2O Na2O SO3 Total
53.0 26.6 8.0 2.2 1.2 4.2 1.6 1.0 97.8
Balance is mainly carbon, with minor oxides including P2O5 and Mn2O3.
The glass content of fly ash is typically 70%-90%, with the bulk of the crystalline
material consisting of quartz (SiO2) and mullite (an aluminium silicate, Al6Si2O13
or Al6Si3O15)
The bulk of most fly ash is composed of spherical particles, ranging in size from
under 1m to about 50m, although some particles may be up to 100m in
Composite Cements
diameter. Most particles are solid (with some air bubbles) although some are
hollow shells.
Figure 7.5 Coal fired power station, source Figure 7.6 SEM image of fly ash particles,
of fly ash used in concrete. (Photo courtesy as used in concrete.
UK Quality Ash Association.)
Most fly ash particles are mainly composed of an impure glassy aluminosilicate.
However, because they are formed individually from mineral assemblages in coal,
the composition of each particle is slightly different, or sometimes very different.
While most of the aluminosilicate particles are of broadly similar composition,

some particles are iron-rich or silica-rich and some oddities are rich in other
oxides eg: titanium dioxide.
Some fly ash is calcareous; these ashes are typically higher in CaO, SO3 and MgO
and contain less SiO2 and Al2O3 compared with siliceous fly ash. These ashes are
described as Class C fly ash in the USA if the sum of the SiO2 and Al2O3 contents
is less than 70%. The following focuses on siliceous fly ash.
7.3.2 Fly ash as a cementitious material
When used as a mineral addition, fly ash typically comprises up to 30% of the
total cementitious material, sometimes more. The main technical benefits of
using fly ash in a composite cement are:
Can give higher later strengths in large pours of concrete; ultimate

strengths in small pours or mixes cured at ambient temperature will be
similar to, or lower than, those of Portland cement mixes for the same
total cementitious content.
Because fly ash particles are spherical, mixes containing fly ash require
less water for the same workability compared with a mix containing
Portland cement only; this reduces permeability.
The intrinsic paste permeability is reduced, probably due to an increase in
Composite Cements
the Si/Ca ratio of the C-S-H, (Chapter 7.1).
Improved durability (sulfate resistance; reduced likelihood of alkali-silica

reaction; reduced chloride penetration).
Lower heat of hydration reduces risk of thermally-induced cracking.
Less efflorescence.
Less shrinkage and creep.
In addition, the general benefits of using composite cements outlined in Chapter

7.1.2 apply to the use of fly ash.
The main properties determining whether an ash is suitable for use in concrete
are its pozzolanic reactivity and the ability of the ash to reduce the concrete
water demand. Too much carbon in the ash increases the water demand, affects
the colour of the concrete and can affect the action of concrete admixtures.
Carbon in ash can usually be accommodated in the mix design, provided the
carbon content does not change; a variable carbon content is more difficult to
deal with.
Strengths
Concrete in which fly ash has replaced some of the Portland cement would be
expected to have lower early strengths due to the slower rate of reaction of the
ash particles compared with Portland cement. However, the basis of any
comparisons has to be considered carefully as one of the principle benefits of the
use of fly ash is that the w/s ratio can be lowered for the same workability, due
to the particle shape of the ash. Other adjustments to the mix design may also
be made.
For the same total cementitious contents cured at ambient temperature, a

concrete containing Portland cement and fly ash would be expected to show both
lower early strengths and lower 28-day strengths compared with a Control mix
containing just Portland cement. At later ages, the strength growth curve for the
Control mix would flatten off but the fly ash mix would continue to gain strength
and may overtake after three months to a year.
In large pours of concrete where the heat of hydration raises the concrete
temperature appreciably, the mix containing fly ash will still be weaker than the
Portland cement Control mix at early ages, but will tend to overtake the Control
later; the larger the pour and higher the temperature, the sooner the fly ash
concrete is likely to become the stronger of the two mixes. (Note that the curing
temperatures will not be the same; for equivalent pours, the mix containing fly
ash will have a lower heat of hydration, see below).
Cement and fly ash finenesses will affect the rates of strength growth in these
comparisons.
Composite Cements
Permeability and durability

The benefits of using fly ash in a composite cement in relation to permeability
and durability are broadly similar to those of using slag (Chapter 7.2.2).
Heat
Low-lime fly ash reacts more slowly than ordinary Portland cement and
consequently it is widely used in large concrete pours, such as dams, where high
fly ash contents are often used. The maximum temperature reached by the
concrete is much reduced, lessening the chances of thermal fracturing and
increasing the final concrete strength.
Other benefits
Benefits cited by the ash industry, in addition to the above, include a reduction in
efflorescence and in shrinkage and creep. Efflorescence is caused by soluble salts
reaching the surface (particularly calcium hydroxide); these salts are usually
derived from the cement. If the cement content of a concrete is reduced by
partial replacement of Portland cement with fly ash, it follows that less soluble
material will be in the mix and so the likelihood of efflorescence occurring will be
lessened. Additionally, if fly ash reduces the permeability of the paste, less
soluble material will reach the surface, again reducing efflorescence.
The magnitude of any drying shrinkage and creep in concrete is related to the
w/c or w/s ratio of the mix. Since using fly ash as a mineral addition in cement
enables the use of a mix of lower w/s ratio for the same workability, shrinkage
and creep should be reduced.
7.3.3 Hydration products in mixes containing fly ash
Silica released from fly ash hydration forms C-S-H, the necessary lime being
derived from CH from cement hydration and by increasing the Si/Ca ratio of the
C-S-H.
Alumina is also released; some enters the C-S-H structure, increasing the Al/Ca
ratio of the C-S-H. The remaining alumina forms other compounds, including AFm
phase, hydrogarnet (mainly C3AH6) and stratlingite (C2ASH8).
Typically, between a quarter and a half of the ash may eventually react (this
might take months or years), depending on factors including ash glass content,
hydration temperature, percentage of cement replacement and the alkali content
of the Portland cement. It is primarily the glassy phase that reacts; the
crystalline inclusions, mainly quartz and mullite, are generally inert. Mullite and
quartz crystals can occasionally be seen in SEM images of fracture surfaces,
protruding from part-reacted ash particles where glass has been extracted by
reaction with the cement pore fluid.
While fly ash contributes to later strength gain through the pozzolanic reaction,
the slow rate of reaction means that, initially, fly ash is almost chemically inert in
the early stages of Portland cement hydration. Before any significant fly ash
reaction has occurred, as with fine limestone particles, the ash particles provide
Composite Cements
nucleation sites on which hydration products can form from solution, increasing
the rate of Portland cement hydration at early ages. This partly offsets the slower
rate of strength growth due to the lower fly ash reactivity compared with the
Portland cement it has replaced.
The pozzolanic reaction process by which fly ash contributes to concrete strength,
is believed to be that sodium and potassium in the pore fluid reacts with silicate
material extracted from the fly ash by the action of hydroxyl ions. An alkali-
silicate gel is formed, which is unstable in the presence of calcium and is rapidly
converted to C-S-H.
The presence of sodium and potassium hydroxide in the cement pore fluid will
increase the pore fluid alkalinity and accelerate fly ash reaction. However, lime
(calcium hydroxide) does not contain sodium or potassium hydroxide although a
lime/fly ash mix produces an hydraulic binder. This shows that sodium and
potassium hydroxide are not essential to fly ash reaction; the alkalinity produced
by the lime is sufficient, although the reaction rate will be slower.
Figure 7.7 Polished section of concrete Figure 7.8 Polished section of concrete
made using Portland cement (70%) and fly made using Portland cement (30%) and
ash (30%). Key: c-(and other similar bright slag (70%). Key: circled features are relicts
features) are relicts of partly-hydrated of partly-hydrated cement particles; s-sand
cement particles; s-silica sand; arrowed particles, mainly silica and feldspar;
features are examples of fly ash particles, arrowed, light grey particles are slag
but there are many more. Note that the fly particles. A dark reaction rim can just be
ash particles are not all the same grey seen around some of the slag particles. In
level; this is because each particle has a contrast with the fly ash particles in Figure
different composition, usually only slightly. 7.7, all the slag particles here are of the
Most are medium-grey and composed of same grey level, as they are all of similar
aluminosilicates; a few are bright, iron-rich, composition having been quenched from
particles. (NB: in backscattered electron the same liquid.
images, grey level is approximately
proportional to mean atomic number:
Fe2O3, for example, will appear brighter
than SiO2.).
Composite Cements
7.4 Microsilica (silica fume)

Microsilica is a by-product of silicon production. It is composed largely of
structurally-amorphous silicon dioxide spheres, typically 0.1 m across. It is a
highly pozzolanic material, white, grey or almost black in colour and has a high
pozzolanic activity, more so than fly ash.
Because it has a high surface area, it has a high water demand and this limits the
level of cement replacement by microsilica unless water-reducing admixtures are
used.
As it is composed largely of silica, the main chemical effect of microsilica is to

increase the C-S-H content of the paste by reaction with CH from Portland
cement hydration. Unlike fly ash or slag, where a significant proportion of the
material remains unreacted, microsilica will usually react largely or fully. The
increased proportion of C-S-H should reduce the overall porosity of the concrete
and increase the strength; also, the increased Si/Ca ratio of the C-S-H, as
discussed above (Chapter 7.1) may reduce the interconnectivity of the pores.
The main benefits of using microsilica are:
An increase in strength; microsilica is often used in high-strength

concrete.
The high surface area of microsilica reduces bleeding at the concrete

surface.
A decrease in permeability to water (by a factor of 10-100 compared with

a Portland cement-only mix) and hence improved durability and resistance
to chloride or sulfate ingress.
A reduction in the likelihood of ASR due to the decreased pH as a result of

consumption of CH to form C-S-H; the lower permeability to water should
also be beneficial in this regard.
Microsilica is available in several forms: densified, undensified and as a slurry;

each type is best suited for particular applications. It is important to disperse
microsilica adequately, since undispersed clumps will behave essentially as larger
particles of reactive silica, producing alkali-silica gel.
For more information on microsilica in concrete, see Lea (5) or Taylor (6).
Composite Cements
7.5 Limestone
Limestone is a mineral addition widely used in cement. It is neither pozzolanic
nor latently hydraulic.
Small additions of limestone (up to 5%) have been considered in Chapter 5.8. In
the context of mineral additions, the proportions of limestone in the cement are
much higher. For example, European Standard EN 197-1 specifies cements
containing 6%-20% limestone (CEM II/A-LL)1 and 21%-35% limestone
(CEM II/B-LL).
Generically, such cements are referred to as Portland-limestone Cement (PLC).
PLC has been used in Europe for many years and is now becoming more widely
used elsewhere. To take an example of how PLC is used, in the UK it is widely
used in both precast and ready-mixed concrete; in Europe as a whole, PLC
represents about a quarter of the cement market.
The main benefits of PLC are:
Cost
Shrinkage control
Reduction in bleeding
Reduced CO2 emissions
PLC may be produced by intergrinding limestone with clinker, or by blending

limestone powder in the mixer. (These alternative methods are likely to produce
different clinker and limestone particle sizes with possible effects on cement
characteristics). Limestone interground with clinker grinds preferentially, as it is
softer than clinker; PLC therefore is usually ground finer than Portland cement to
ensure the clinker particles are sufficiently fine.
Fine limestone in cement is often regarded just as a filler and indeed it does fill
gaps between clinker particles. However, as already discussed (Chapter 6.3),
limestone is not inert, as some of it takes part in the hydration process.
The dilution effect of replacing some of the clinker with limestone can be offset
by grinding the clinker more finely. For the same water/cement ratio, PLC
concrete may have a lower 28-day strength than a concrete containing Portland
cement only, and a higher cement content may be needed to produce similar
strengths.
For the same concrete strength, PLC has similar durability characteristics to
Portland cement in most respects, although its resistance to sulfate attack is still
being evaluated, particularly with regard to thaumasite formation. (Sulfate attack
and thaumasite are discussed in Chapter 9).
1
Or CEM II/A-L; CEM II/B-L for lower purity limestone, see Chapter 10.
Composite Cements
In PLC concrete, the rate of hydration of alite is increased by the presence of fine
limestone, giving good early strengths. Hemicarbonate and monocarbonate are
formed from the reaction of aluminate phase with some of the limestone; most of
the sulfate in the cement is likely to be present as ettringite. Only a small
proportion of the limestone will react, although the proportion will increase in
concrete containing Portland cement with a higher aluminate content, or if
additional alumina is available from slag or fly ash in the mix.
Monocarbonate and hemicarbonate formation fill pore space within the concrete,
reducing permeability and thereby increasing durability. They may also make
some contribution to strength.
The increased use of PLC is highly likely if the proportion of Portland cement in
concrete is to be reduced for environmental reasons. Limestone is readily
available, but other mineral additions (particularly slag and fly ash) are in limited
supply. Also, it is undesirable to transport bulk materials further than necessary.
The availability of fly ash and slag depends on coal-fired power generation or iron
smelting; they are not available everywhere without being transported over long
distances but limestone is readily available wherever cement is produced.
Herfort describes the hydration and performance of PLCs (7).

293.
2. Source: http://www.ukqaa.org.uk/Datasheets_PDF/Datasheet_8-
3_Feb_2009.pdf
3. Source: http://www.ukqaa.org.uk/Datasheets_PDF/Datasheet_8-4_Feb
2009.pdf
4. Demoulian et al, 7th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement,
Vol 2, 1980.
5. Lea, particularly Chapter 12; also other references in Lea check Lea
index
6. Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, Thomas Telford, 2nd ed. 1997, p284.
7. Portland Limestone Cements, D Herfort, The First International
Conference on New Cements and their Effect on Concrete Performance"
HBRC-Helwan University, Cairo, 16-18 December 2008. Currently in press
in the HBRC journal. http://www.hbrc.edu.eg/journal/Default.aspx

Composite Cements
Additionally:
Some excellent datasheets (downloadable pdf files) on the use of fly ash in
concrete are available from the UK Quality Ash Association web site at:
http://www.ukqaa.org.uk/Publications.html#TechnicalDatasheets
Similarly, equally-excellent datasheets on the use of slag in concrete in addition

to Reference 1 above are available from the Hanson UK web site at:
http://www.heidelbergcement.com/uk/en/hanson/products/cements/ggbs_and_r
elated_products/ggbs_.htm
There is more on slag at the UK cementitious slag makers association web site:
http://www.ukcsma.co.uk/index.html
(Web sites have an irritating habit of changing, so if these pages change and the
links do not work, look around the web site as the pdf files will probably still be
available somewhere.)

8 Cement variability
Here, we use cement variability to mean the extent to which cement from the
same source, and produced to the same specification, varies over time. In other
words, if you buy a bag of cement produced from clinker made on Monday and
then another bag from clinker made on Friday, will the cement in the two bags
behave in exactly the same way when mixed with water?
On a larger scale, if you receive a delivery of bulk cement to a silo today, will the
cement in this delivery behave identically to that delivered last week or last
month?
The short answer is: Yes, probably. For most practical purposes, they should all
behave in such a similar way that it wont be easy to distinguish cement from the
two bags or deliveries. However, you might just possibly notice differences in
cement characteristics. These differences may be so slight as to make no
practical difference but occasionally they may cause problems.
The main differences that may be noticed typically relate to colour, setting times,
early strengths, later strengths or how the cement responds to admixtures. If
you are manufacturing pre-cast concrete products, early strengths are likely to
be important as they will control how quickly you can de-mould the product and
re-use the mould. If you are an engineer requiring a minimum 28-day strength,
then later strengths will probably be your prime concern.
8.1 In defence of the cement producer

The cement producer may sometimes be forgiven for feeling unloved. He (or she)
is blamed for the perceived high price of his product and, when anything goes
wrong, everyone immediately blames the cement.
Most cement producers normally go to great lengths to ensure a consistent

product. However, achieving this is this is not always easy.
A typical modern cement plant may produce 2000-3000, or more, tonnes of

cement every day. The raw materials from the quarry will inevitably be of
variable composition, fuels will vary in their ash content, ash composition and
calorific value. These days, in efforts to reduce fossil fuel use, alternative fuels
Cement variability
used to make cement may include waste paper, car tyres or solvents in addition
to the normal gas, oil or coal. The availability and composition of each of these
may vary on a daily basis, requiring constant adjustments to the raw meal
composition and fuel mix. Given all this variability, it would be surprising if the
behaviour of the product never fluctuated just a little.
Despite all of the above problems, in most places modern cement is more
consistent and of a higher quality than ever before. Improvements have been
made possible through developments in the major components of the cement
plant - the kiln and the raw materials and cement mills - but especially in
computer-controlled operations and in on-line analysis.
Prior to a few decades ago, analyses of everything - raw materials, blended raw
materials, clinker and cement - would have been carried out by taking samples,
dissolving them in suitable reagents, then quantifying compositions by titration or
gravimetrically, followed by calculation using pencil and paper. This might all take
several hours, or even up to 24 hours. Today, online sampling and analysis is
carried out automatically in minutes using X-ray fluorescence and X-ray
diffraction.
If, for example, the raw feed composition starts to drift from the target values,
the change should be noticed quickly and corrective action taken, again probably
automatically. Such early recognition of deviations from target compositions,
followed by rapid corrective action, should minimise variability in the composition
of the cement.
Tests carried out on the cement by the manufacturer will depend on the standard
to which the cement is produced, but will typically include tests on composition,
tests for expansion on hydration and tests on strength in standard mixes. These
tests should ensure that the cement conforms to the appropriate standard.
It is simply not possible for a cement producer to test his cement with all of the
materials with which it may be used. These could include fly ash, slag, microsilica
and any of hundreds of admixtures. Even a few basic permutations of all of these
would produce thousands of mixes to be tested - not just once, but every day, or
hour or whatever analysis interval was deemed appropriate. This would clearly be
unrealistic and anyway would add greatly to the cost of the cement.
The price of cement is often a key factor in making purchasing decisions. A major
cement user will often contract with a particular supplier for a period of time (eg:
a year) and a pound or dollar or two either way in the cost per tonne may make
all the difference in deals worth millions. Adding an expensive battery of tests
that will be largely unnecessary wont appeal to either the cement producer or
purchaser.
The cement makers lot is not, then, always a happy one. He has to contend with
variable raw materials and variable fuels. Increasingly, he also has to comply with
environmental legislation that requires him to reduce CO2 emissions or pay heavy
penalties; in turn this may involve the use of alternative fuels that may
themselves have the potential to cause more variability in the product.
He has to comply with other environmental laws limiting what can be emitted
from his site. In more densely-populated areas he has the general public living

Cement variability
nearby, for whom the cement producer is invariably responsible for dust from any
source falling onto their house or car. He has customers for whom price often
appears to be a more important factor than the supply of a consistent product or
good customer service - at least until something goes wrong.
On top of all that, he has shareholders looking for a return on the tens or
hundreds of millions that they invested to build the cement plant in the first
place. If he fails to deliver, the shareholders will sell him to another cement
producer who will demolish his kiln and turn his quarry into a shopping mall. Its
enough to make anyone wish they had listened to mum and dad and become a
...lawyer or a doctor or a civil engineer.
8.2 Causes of cement variability

Lets restore some objectivity. If it is unrealistic to expect cement from a given
source never to vary, what degree of variation might be expected and what might
be the cause(s)?
Obviously, the purchaser can expect that all cement will conform to the standard
to which it was produced. However, the standard is likely to permit a range of
physical and compositional characteristics. Usually, a purchaser has the choice of
several different sources of cement, all nominally similar and produced to the
same standard, and he will probably have a preferred source. This preference
may be based on price or on technical considerations.
Perhaps one source has a particularly dark or light colour that suits the
application better than other cements, or maybe it has a particularly good early
strength, or it just works better in his process than other alternatives.
Suppose you are a producer of concrete products who has been using cement
from a particular source for some months without any problems; suddenly, you
notice a change in the strength of the concrete, or that the cement has a
different colour. What may have happened?
Firstly, it might be a different cement, or cement made from a blend of the usual
clinker with other imported clinker. This might happen, for example, when a
cement kiln is shut down for periodic maintenance or because of a technical
problem. The cement producer may bring clinker in from elsewhere to
supplement the lost production. Usually, he will advise his larger customers in
advance that this will happen, or he should do. If a change in cement
characteristics coincides with a kiln shutdown, this may well be the explanation.
With luck, normal cement characteristics will be restored when the kiln restarts.
However, suppose you notice changes in behaviour over time in cement from a
single source, even though no major alterations in the raw materials or clinker
composition were apparently made over this period. Surely something must have
changed? Well, yes it might have.

Cement variability
Colour: changes in the colour of cement may be due to differences in the

amount of ferrite in the clinker; since ferrite is dark grey or black, it gives clinker
its characteristic grey or black colour. If the proportion of ferrite changes, the
colour may also change. A change in the ferrite content may be due to a change
in the overall oxide composition, but differences in burning conditions can also
affect colour.
Strength: changes in strength may be due to a number of causes; obviously,

lower strengths tend to be the cause of more concern than increased strengths. A
few of the most common causes of lower strengths include:
Cement fineness: the cement particles may be coarser. This could be

due to a difference in the overall fineness of the cement, or to differences
in particle size distribution. This might be due to an intentional change in
cement fineness, or it might be due to a temporary mill problem. Note
that this is primarily a physical difference, rather than chemical. It is
clearly related to the performance or operation of the cement mill,
although other factors may have been the trigger. One example might be
that the raw feed to the kiln contains more coarse silica resulting in large
clusters of belite, hard and resistant to being ground, getting into the
cement. Another could be that the normal cement mill is under repair and
the alternative mill produces a different particle size distribution.
Lower alite content: concrete strength is mainly due to calcium silicate

hydrate formation from the hydration of alite and belite. Alite is more
reactive than belite, so if less alite is present in the cement, early
strengths are likely to be lower. If there is less alite, there is likely to be
more belite (provided that the silica ratio of the clinker has not altered
appreciably); later strengths may be restored to near-normal as belite
hydration continues.
Different kiln conditions: for good early concrete strength it is not

simply the total amount of alite present that is important, but the
reactivity of the individual alite crystals. The reactivity of the alite (and
belite) crystals is higher if the clinker is brought to burning temperature
rapidly; the temperature maintained for as long as is necessary and the
clinker cooled as rapidly as possible. The length and temperature of the
flame in the kiln is of prime importance in this. Other factors are also
relevant, for example, the size of the clinker nodules will affect the rate at
which the clinker cools-the interior of coarser nodules will cool more
slowly. Overburning or underburning the clinker can also cause strength
loss, as can reducing conditions in the kiln.
Sulfates - fixed w/c ratio v fixed slump: sulfates affect setting

properties by controlling C3A hydration. As discussed in Chapter 6.3, if
there is insufficient sulfate in solution in the pore fluid, flash setting may
occur, with the rapid formation of AFm phase. Conversely, if there is
excess sulfate in solution (possibly caused by high mill temperatures),
false setting may occur due to the growth of gypsum crystals. Flash or
false setting are both extreme cases; it is more likely that a very small

Cement variability
amount of either may occur, insufficient to cause a set but enough to

slightly stiffen the mix or alter the performance of an admixture.
Gypsum is often considered to be the main form of sulfate in cement. In

practice, as we've seen, cement is likely to contain more than one form of
sulfate. Some will be clinker sulfate and some will be added at the cement
mill as gypsum. Clinker sulfate may typically contain several different
sulfates (eg: calcium langbeinite, arcanite, aphthitalite) and the added
gypsum may contain gypsum and natural anhydrite. The gypsum may be
decomposed during milling to hemihydrate or anhydrite. The cement
might then contain up to five or six different forms of sulfate, all with
different solubilities. The objective is that sufficient sulfate should be in
solution to control C3A hydration, but not enough to cause the
precipitation of gypsum. This is a delicate balance.
Waste calcium sulfate is increasingly used; usually, this is gypsum in the

form of materials such as plasterboard and can sometimes have
deleterious effects.
Syngenite formation (CaSO4.K2SO4.H2O - calcium potassium sulfate

hydrate) can occur in cements with a high K2O content. This may cause
false set due to crystal growth. Since syngenite formation removes sulfate
from the pore fluid, flash set may then also occur.
Sulfate solubilities are affected by temperature. The different forms of

calcium sulfate have lower water solubilities as temperatures increase;
arcanite (potassium sulfate) behaves more conventionally, becoming more
soluble at higher temperatures. Whether incipient flash or false set occurs
may therefore depend on the temperature of the mix.
Provided that test concrete (or mortar) mixes are prepared at a constant
water-cement ratio, minor imbalances in the rate of supply or
consumption of sulfate should not make much difference to strengths.
Specifications for cement in national standards normally specify testing at
particular water-cement ratios. However, the ready-mixed concrete
industry, and others, generally prepares concrete to a particular slump,
not to a particular water-cement ratio.
Suppose in a concrete produced at a ready mix plant, the cement pore

fluid becomes slightly super-saturated with respect to gypsum; a small
amount of gypsum will precipitate and the mix will stiffen slightly. The
operators response will probably be to add more water to restore the
desired slump. The hardened concrete will then be weaker at all ages, due
to the additional water. We now have the interesting situation in which the
cement manufacturer correctly says that his tests show that his cement
produces mortar or concrete of normal strengths. Conversely, the
concrete producer equally correctly says that, using the same cement, his
concrete strengths are lower than normal. The problem is that the testing
procedures are not the same.
This situation could arise, for example, where two cements have a similar
oxide composition but one has been milled hotter than the other,
decomposing the gypsum to hemihydrate. As hemihydrate is more soluble

Cement variability
than gypsum, a small amount of gypsum may form in an incipient false

set, even though the mix is still workable. At the ready mix plant, the
reduction in slump is noticed and more water is added to compensate.
Anything that affects the rate at which the C3A requires sulfate to control
setting, or the rate at which sulfate becomes available from all sources,
may have a similar effect. This could be a change in the total cement
sulfate content, a change in the proportion of clinker sulfate to total
sulfate, a change in cement fineness, a change in the C3A content of the
cement, a change in C3A reactivity or a change in the extent to which C3A
and ferrite crystals are intergrown in the clinker.
Optimum gypsum: the gypsum content of the cement affects the rate of
strength development and the volume stability of the concrete.
Given all the things that could go wrong, of which the above is really just an
introduction, you might feel that maybe cement isnt quite so reliable after all.
However, the extent to which that impression is wrong is really a tribute to the
evolution of the manufacturing process over many years. Of course, things can
occasionally go badly wrong, but, fortunately, that is now unusual. Or, at least, it
should be.

9 Deleterious processes in concrete
9.1 Reactions between cement paste and aggregate

Reactions between hydrated cement and aggregate in concrete, or alkali-
aggregate reaction, can be divided into two main types: alkali-silica reaction and
alkali-carbonate reaction.
In alkali-silica reaction, alkalis in the cement paste fraction of the concrete react
with with certain types of reactive silica to form an expansive gel.
In alkali-carbonate reaction, aggregate containing dolomite reacts with hydroxyl

ions in the paste to form calcium carbonate plus magnesium hydroxide and
carbonate ions. The products of the reaction occupy a greater volume than the
initial reactants and so an expansive force is exerted on the surrounding
concrete.
Well consider these processes in more detail below.
9.1.1 Alkali-silica reaction
Background
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) can cause serious expansion and cracking in concrete,
resulting in major structural problems and sometimes necessitating demolition.
Although first recognised in the 1940s in the USA, it wasnt until the 1970s that
ASR really became the focus of attention of concrete science worldwide. It also
came to the attention of the media, who promptly dubbed it concrete cancer.
Extensive research was undertaken, which later led to better practise in the
production of concrete to minimise the risk of ASR in the future. Of course, it
wasnt purely scientific interest that had led to research funding suddenly being
available; rebuilding major structures damaged by ASR was becoming expensive.
The reaction
ASR is caused by a reaction between the hydroxyl ions in the alkaline cement
Deleterious processes in concrete
pore solution in the concrete and reactive forms of silica in the aggregate. These
reactive forms of silica are typically chert, quartzite, opal and strained quartz
crystals. Other materials, such as glass can also produce ASR. Pyrex glass and
calcined flint have been used as test reactive aggregates in experimental
concrete mixes. Ordinary glass (as in household jars and bottles) is also reactive.
Undispersed agglomerations of microsilica can also cause ASR.
Silicate anions are detached from the reactive aggregate by hydroxyl ions in the
cement pore fluid; sodium and potassium ions are the ions most readily-available
to balance the silicate anions and an alkali-silicate gel is formed. This can take up
(imbibe) water and is mobile. The gel is unstable in pore fluid containing
dissolved calcium, and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) is produced. This releases
sodium and potassium from the gel into the pore fluid, increasing the pore fluid
hydroxyl ion concentration, with the potential for continued reaction.
Figure 9.1 Alkali-silica reaction in multi- Figure 9.2 Alkali-silica reaction in

storey car park, UK. (Photo courtesy The highways structure (Photo courtesy The
Concrete Society). Concrete Society).
The alkali-silicate gel increases in volume by taking up water, and so exerts an

expansive pressure. If the reactive particle is impermeable to the pore fluid, gel
forms at the surface. Some types of silica (eg: chert and opal) are permeable to
alkali in pore fluid and gel can form inside the aggregate, often near the centre of
the particle. Where gel has formed inside an aggregate particle, the aggregate
particle usually cracks, with the crack extending into the surrounding concrete
(Figures 9.3-9.5).

Figure 9.3 ASR in concrete viewed in thin-section;

alkali-silica gel (arrowed) almost fills the crack
extending from the chert particle at the right beyond
the left of the image. Yellow material is resin used in
specimen preparation.
Figure 9.4 SEM image of ASR in chert Figure 9.5 Detail of Figure 9.4 showing gel
particle (centre); internal microcracking is extruded from chert particle into a crack in
widespread and some cracks extend into the concrete. Ettringite is also present
the surrounding concrete. (lower right) in a gap between the cement
paste and a sand particle.
In unrestrained concrete (that is, without any reinforcement), ASR typically

causes the characteristic 'map cracking' associated with ASR, with a repeating
pattern of three radiating cracks 120 degrees apart.
Usually, the best method to confirm that ASR has occurred is to examine the
concrete in either thin section using a petrographic microscope, or in polished
section using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Gel may be seen in cracks
and in aggregate particles.
The process of alkali-silica reaction is believed to be broadly similar to the

pozzolanic reaction, as occurs normally in concrete containing fly ash, for
example. However, there are important differences.

In the pozzolanic reaction where a pozzolan is used as a partial cement

replacement, the particles are small. As there is much calcium available in young
concrete, the alkali-silicate gel forms in a thin layer around the pozzolanic
particle and quickly converts to C-S-H and no expansion results.
In the case of alkali-silica reaction, the reaction usually occurs much later,
possibly years after the concrete was placed. Large aggregate particles (large,
that is, compared with cement-sized pozzolan) generate a significant volume of
gel, which then takes up water and expands within the hardened, mature,
concrete.
Because the concrete is mature, calcium availability is limited, as most of the

calcium is bound up in stable solid phases. The rate of supply of calcium is
therefore insufficient to convert the gel quickly to C-S-H, especially if the gel has
formed within an aggregate particle such as opal or chert, where calcium is
scarce.
Figure 9.6 This is the same image as in Figure 9.5, with X-ray spectra superimposed
showing how alkali-silica gel composition changes with time to become more like that of
the surrounding calcium silicate hydrates. At A the gel spectrum shows large peaks due to
silicon and potassium and only a very weak peak due to calcium. At B the calcium peak
has become much stronger and the potassium peak much weaker. At C the potassium
peak has disappeared entirely and the gel has approximately the same composition as the
normal calcium silicate hydrate comprising the bulk of the cement paste. Clearly, the gel is
older with increasing distance from the aggregate particle in which it originated - the
'oldest' gel has had more time in which to take up calcium from the surrounding paste,
and has now become calcium silicate hydrate.
Expansion of the gel as water is taken up, is likely to result in damage to the
surrounding concrete. Over time, the gel will slowly take up calcium and

eventually the composition of the gel may become similar to that of the calcium
silicate hydrate in the cement paste (see Figure 9.6). By then, though, the
concrete may already be severely damaged.
Conditions necessary for ASR and how to limit expansion
Three conditions are necessary for ASR to occur in concrete:
A sufficiently high alkali content of the cement pore fluid.
A reactive aggregate, such as chert.
Water - needed for the gel to expand; expansion due to ASR will not occur
if there is no available water in the concrete.
Given these three conditions, ways in which we can prevent expansion in

concrete due to ASR may appear obvious; we avoid using reactive aggregates
and we limit the available alkalis. However, restrictions that are too severe will in
themselves cause other problems.
Restricting the alkali in the cement
The cement is usually the main source of alkali in the pore fluid in concrete,
derived from alkali sulfate and from alkalis in the main clinker minerals, mainly in
belite and aluminate. So if we restrict the alkali content of the cement, wont that
limit the alkali in the pore fluid? Yes, it will, but this does not allow for different
cement contents in concrete, so simply imposing a limit on cement alkalis is not a
complete answer to the problem. Also, we need to remember that higher alkali
cements tend to give better early concrete strengths; alite and belite hydrate
faster as pore fluid alkalinity increases.
Imposing limits on cement alkali content that were too low (however defined)
may therefore affect cement performance. It would also increase the cost of
cement production, as bypass dust and precipitator dust high in alkalis could not
be returned to the kiln and would have to go to landfill. Additionally, some raw
materials high in alkali could not be used and would have to be replaced by
possibly more expensive alternatives. So, although restricting the cement alkali
content makes an important contribution to controlling ASR in concrete where
potentially reactive aggregate is to be used, it is not necessarily a complete
answer to the problem.
Alkali limits are usually expressed as sodium equivalent. This conveniently

combines the potassium and sodium oxides, and is useful for other purposes as

well. Sodium oxide equivalent is defined as: Na2Oeq=(Na2O+0.658K2O)1.
Upper limits for sodium oxide equivalent on low alkali cement are typically of the
order of 0.60%-0.75%; check the standards or codes of practice applicable to
your location.
Restricting the alkali in the concrete
An alternative approach is to limit the alkali content of the concrete. This would
then take into account that different concretes have different cement contents.
Limiting the alkali content can be achieved by using lower alkali Portland cement,
by using a lower cement content in the concrete or by partially replacing the
Portland cement with slag, fly ash or microsilica.
The use of slag or a pozzolan in the concrete mix as a partial cement

replacement can reduce the likelihood of ASR occurring as these reduce the
alkalinity of the pore fluid. Slag, fly ash, microsilica and metakaolin have all been
found in various studies to reduce or prevent expansion due to ASR. However,
this is a complex area because some of these cement replacement materials also
contribute alkali when they react.
For example, using some typical Figures from Taylor, fly ash typically contains
1.5% Na2O and 4.2% K2O (1) and slag contains approximately 0.4% Na2O and
0.7% K2O (2). Compared with the alkali levels in Portland cement, slag is
therefore broadly similar and fly ash is considerably higher. However, both are
less reactive than Portland cement and even in mature concrete some slag or fly
ash will remain unreacted.
Only the reacted fraction of the slag or fly ash will have released alkali into the
pore fluid. As this proportion is not known precisely, and anyway will vary
between different concrete mixes, it is difficult to calculate just how much alkali
from the slag or fly ash has become available for reaction. National Rules will
determine what substitution levels are effective and what allowance to make for
slag or PFA alkalis.
Restricting the water
Can we restrict water availability? In most cases, not really, unless the concrete
is entirely under cover and will never get wet. While expansion due to ASR is
unlikely in concrete that remains dry inside buildings, even building interiors can
become saturated in flood conditions. In any case, most concrete is used in
foundations, roads, bridges or other open structures where it will be exposed to
water.
1
The constant 0.658 is derived from the ratios of atomic weights of sodium and
potassium oxides: Na 22.99; K 39.10; O 15.99; therefore Na2O (22.99 x
2)+15.99=61.97; K2O (39.10 x 2)+15.99=94.19; 61.97/94.19 = 0.658.

Tests for aggregate reactivity
If concrete does not contain reactive aggregate, it follows that there will be no
expansion due to ASR. So, can we prevent expansion by not using reactive
aggregate in concrete? Yes, we can, but we need to decide what we mean by
reactive and we also need some method by which we can determine whether or
not a particular aggregate is reactive.
With some aggregates, expansion due to ASR increases broadly in proportion

with the amount of reactive aggregate in the concrete. The majority of
aggregates (eg: chert) show what is called a pessimum effect; if the proportion
of reactive aggregate in test mixes is varied while other factors are kept
constant, maximum concrete expansion occurs at a particular aggregate content.
Higher or lower proportions of reactive aggregate will give a lower expansion.
In some areas, chert represents the bulk of aggregate used in concrete, with no
resulting expansion due to ASR because the proportion of chert in the concrete is
well above the pessimum. If we excluded all potentially reactive aggregate, we
would not be able to use chert, but such a restriction is unnecessary since it can
clearly be used safely. We just need to avoid aggregate that contains chert near
the pessimum proportion.
There are broadly three types of test for alkali reactivity of aggregate:
Examination in thin-section using optical microscopy (ie: petrography)
Chemical tests (eg: immersion in an alkaline solution such as sodium

hydroxide)
Expansion tests using mortar bars or concrete prisms
Variations on all three of these approaches have been described in different

standards.
Standard microscopy procedures include: ASTM C295-08 Standard Guide for

Petrographic Examination of Aggregates for Concrete and British Standard
BS 812: Part 104: 1994 Testing aggregates - method for qualitative and
quantitative petrographic examination of aggregates.
Chemical tests include ASTM C289 - 07 Standard Test Method for Potential Alkali-
Silica Reactivity of Aggregates (Chemical Method).
Expansion tests include ASTM C227-03 Standard Test Method for Potential Alkali
Reactivity of Cement-Aggregate Combinations (Mortar-Bar Method) and British
Standard BS 812: Part 123: 1999 Testing aggregates - method for determination
of alkali-silica reactivity concrete prism method.

Petrographic examination of aggregate is widely used and is an effective

diagnostic test, assuming of course that the microscopist is able to recognise
potentially reactive forms of silica and also that the sample examined is
representative of the aggregate as a whole.
Chemical tests can also be effective in identifying potentially reactive aggregate

but may not be a good predictor of expansion where the aggregate shows a
pessimum effect.
Conventional expansion tests with mortar bars or concrete prisms are the closest
simulation to real concrete but may require two years or more to show results;
this may not always be convenient. Accelerated expansion tests can shorten this
timescale but do not simulate real conditions as closely.
In summary, all these tests for aggregate reactivity can be very useful indeed
essential - but all have potential problems and the perfect test for ASR
susceptibility has yet to be developed.
So, is it practicable to limit expansion due to ASR?
Yes, definitely. Despite the limitations weve looked at above, the incidence of
expansion due to ASR has declined markedly over the last 10-20 years where
these different approaches to limiting expansion have been applied. For example,
in the UK, there have been no reported cases since the current rules were
introduced in the 1980s. Generally, codes of practice and national standards
define how these approaches are used in practice in different parts of the world.
Usually, several strategies to limit expansion are applied at the same time.
For example, aggregate producers will routinely have their aggregate examined
petrographically to determine the rock types and their potential reactivity. These
aggregates then go into concrete that contains cement that has limits on alkali
content specifically to minimise the risk of ASR; the concrete may well also
contain fly ash or slag or other mineral addition to limit the available alkali.
Of course, these relatively recent ways of dealing with the problem only control
the problem in concrete produced using these methods. Instances of ASR still
occur in some older concrete because there were fewer controls over what was
used to produce it. Even where good controls are apparently in place, there is
always the potential for things to go badly wrong.
9.1.2 Alkali-carbonate reaction
Alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR) is an expansive reaction between the alkaline

pore fluid in concrete and some aggregates in which dolomite is present. Many
aggregates containing dolomite do not give rise to ACR. Dolomite is a mineral
composed of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO3)2). Dolomite is often
present in limestone; while limestone is usually composed mainly of calcium
carbonate (calcite, CaCO3), some limestones also contain dolomite and these are

known as dolomitic limestones. Other aggregate types may also contain

dolomite.
The reaction is also known as de-dolomitization and occurs between dolomite in

aggregate and hydroxyl ions in the pore fluid. This forms calcium carbonate and
magnesium hydroxide, and releases carbonate into the pore fluid:
CaMg(CO3)2 + 2OH- CaCO3 + Mg(OH)2 +CO32-
The dissolved carbonate can then react with calcium hydroxide to form calcium
carbonate, releasing hydroxyl ions into the pore fluid, which can then react with
more dolomite:
CO3 + Ca(OH)2 CaCO3 + 2OH-
ACR was first identified in Canada and has also been confirmed in China and the
Middle East (and probably other places too) but it is rare overall in comparison
with ASR.
There is some difference in emphasis in the literature regarding expansion due to

ACR, including whether the dolomite has to be argillaceous dolomite for the
reaction to occur and also just how expansive the de-dolomitization process
actually is. Also, some people have attributed the expansion to the swelling of
the argillaceous component of the aggregate rather than to de-dolomitization. A
further complication arises if the aggregate also contains alkali-reactive silica as
this may produce alkali-silica reaction; both ACR and ASR may occur in the same
aggregate.
Identification of ASR and ACR
In unrestrained concrete (where no reinforcement is present), expansion from a

point source characteristically causes the typical map-cracking often observed
in association with ASR. However, if reinforcement is present, the crack pattern
will be altered.
In any case, the most reliable method of identifying ASR or ACR is microscopic
examination of the concrete. Typically, cores are taken from the concrete for
petrographic examination using either a petrographic microscope to examine thin
sections of the concrete, or by SEM examination of polished sections of pieces of
the concrete.
9.2 Sulfate attack in concrete and mortar

Concrete and mortar made with Portland cement can be damaged when exposed
to solutions containing sulfate. Groundwater often contains sulfate, and so the
foundations of buildings and other structures are frequently where damage due
to sulfate attack is found. Most of what follows refers particularly to concrete;
sulfate attack in mortar is discussed in Chapter 9.2.4.

The majority of instances of sulfate attack have two main effects on the cement
paste:
Sulfate reacts with hydrated aluminate phases, particularly monosulfate

phase, and any unreacted aluminate (C3A), to produce ettringite.
Ettringite formation within the paste exerts an expansive force, causing
cracking.
Calcium hydroxide (CH) in the paste supplies calcium to produce the

ettringite; when CH becomes scarce, the required calcium for continued
ettringite formation is supplied by the C-S-H, which becomes partly
decalcified.
The need for additional calcium (and water) to form ettringite from monosulfate
is shown by the following equation:
C3A.CaSO4.12H2O + 2Ca2+ + 2SO42+ + 20H2O C3A.3CaSO4.32H2O
(monosulfate) + (2 calcium ions) + (2 sulfate ions) + (20 water molecules) (ettringite)
To recap: the cement paste is weakened because calcium to make ettringite is

provided by the CH and decalcified C-S-H. The sulfate is provided by the source
of sulfate that is causing the sulfate attack, eg: ingressing groundwater
containing dissolved sulfate.
We therefore typically have two processes occurring at the same time. Cracking
is generally due to the expansive pressure caused by the growth of ettringite
within the cement paste. Weakening of the paste by decalcification of the calcium
silicate hydrate (C-S-H) that gives concrete its strength, causes further damage.
Eventually, the concrete disintegrates.
Usually, sulfate attack involves a deterioration of the cement paste in the

concrete with the aggregate taking no part in the reaction. However, occasionally
the aggregate can be the cause of the problem if it contains soluble forms of
sulfate (eg: gypsum).
Sulfate attack causes expansion and cracking, and a general loss of concrete
strength, with ettringite often widespread within the cement paste in affected
areas. However, the quantity of ettringite that can form is limited by the available
alumina from the cement. When this is exhausted, gypsum may form if there is a
continued supply of sulfate; gypsum formation also requires additional calcium,
obtained from CH or C-S-H decalcification, and the deterioration of the cement
paste continues.
Sulfate attack can be 'external' or 'internal'.
External sulfate attack is due to penetration of sulfates in solution into the

concrete from outside.
Internal sulfate attack occurs when a source of soluble sulfate is incorporated

into the concrete at the time of mixing, an example might be the presence of

gypsum particles in the aggregate.
9.2.1 External sulfate attack
This is the more common type and typically occurs where water containing
dissolved sulfate penetrates the concrete. A fairly well-defined reaction front can
often be seen in polished sections; ahead of the reaction front the concrete is
normal, or near normal. Behind the reaction front, the composition and
microstructure of the concrete will have changed. These changes may vary in
type or severity but commonly include:
Extensive cracking
Expansion
Loss of bond between the cement paste and aggregate
Alteration of paste composition, with monosulfate phase converting to

ettringite and, in later stages, gypsum formation.
The effects described so far are typical of attack by solutions of sodium sulfate or
potassium sulfate. Solutions containing magnesium sulfate are generally more
aggressive, for the same concentration. This is because the magnesium also
takes part in the reactions, replacing calcium in the solid phases with the
formation of brucite (magnesium hydroxide) and magnesium silicate hydrates.
The displaced calcium precipitates mainly as gypsum.
Sources of sulfate, other than groundwater already mentioned, which can cause
sulfate attack include:
Seawater - typically contains about 0.27% sulfate as SO4.
Oxidation of sulfide minerals in clay adjacent to the concrete: this can

produce sulfuric acid, which then reacts with the concrete.
Bacterial action in sewers: anaerobic bacteria produce sulfur dioxide,

which dissolves in water and then oxidises to form sulfuric acid.
Pollution from industrial waste.
In masonry, sulfates are present in some bricks and can be gradually

released over a long period of time, causing sulfate attack of the mortar,
especially where sulfates are concentrated due to moisture movement. For
this reason, the soluble salt content of bricks in many countries is limited
by national standards.

Figure 9.7 SEM image of sulfate attack in Figure 9.8 SEM image of sulfate attack in
concrete; ettringite has replaced C-S-H concrete; here, ettringite (examples - e) has
within the marked areas. largely replaced C-S-H throughout this field of
view.
9.2.2 Internal sulfate attack
This can occur when a source of sulfate in sufficient quantity is incorporated into
the concrete when mixed. Examples include the use of sulfate-rich aggregate,
excess of added gypsum in the cement, oxidised sulfide minerals in the
aggregate, or contamination. Proper screening and testing procedures should
generally avoid internal sulfate attack.
Delayed ettringite formation
Delayed ettringite formation (DEF) is a special case of internal sulfate attack. A

key point in understanding DEF is that ettringite is destroyed by heating above
about 70 C.
DEF occurs if ettringite that formed normally during hydration is decomposed

through heating, but then subsequently re-forms in the hardened concrete.
Delayed ettringite formation has been a significant problem in many countries. It

typically occurs in concrete that was cured at elevated temperatures, for
example, where steam curing has been used - it was originally identified in
steam-cured concrete railway sleepers (railroad ties). It can also occur in large
concrete pours where the heat of hydration has resulted in high temperatures
within the concrete. DEF may also occur in older concrete subjected to heating
(eg: due to fire).
DEF causes expansion of the concrete due to expansive ettringite formation

within the paste and it can cause serious damage to concrete structures. DEF

normally arises from the sulfate in the cement and may occur some time
months or years after the concrete was placed.
In normal concrete where no sulfate ingress has occurred, the total amount of
ettringite that forms as the result of DEF is evidently limited by the sulfate
contributed by the cement initially. It follows that the quantity of ettringite
forming due to DEF is relatively small. Ettringite crystals form widely-dispersed
throughout the paste. If expansion due to DEF causes cracking, this is
particularly likely around aggregate particles; ettringite may subsequently form
in the cracks but this does not necessarily mean the ettringite in the cracks was
the cause of the initial cracking.
DEF causes a characteristic form of damage to the concrete. While the paste
expands because ettringite crystals are forming within it, the aggregate does not
expand. Consequently, gaps form around these non-expanding 'islands' of
aggregate within the paste (Figures 9.9-9.11). Often, these peripheral gaps
become filled with ettringite (Figure 9.11).
Figure 9.9 Two-dimensional representation

of DEF expansion; at A the blue cement
paste is in contact with the red aggregate. At
B, the blue paste has expanded uniformly,
but the red aggregate has not. Consequently,
a gap has formed between the aggregate
and the paste.
Once gaps have formed at the periphery of aggregate particles, any further
ettringite formation is likely to occur within these gaps, where it can form freely,
rather than within the paste where the crystals would have to exert an expansive
force in order to create space in which to crystallise.

Figure 9.10 DEF expansion: SEM image Figure 9.11 DEF expansion: SEM image
showing a limestone particle with a gap showing ettringite (e) filling a gap between
between the limestone and the cement paste a limestone aggregate particle (L) and the
(arrowed). cement paste. Small silica sand grains (s)
remain bonded to the cement paste and do
not show peripheral gaps.
The images in Figures 9.10 and 9.11 are characteristic of damage to concrete
due to DEF. Where peripheral gaps form around aggregate particles, the
aggregate is no longer contributing to concrete strength, since it is effectively
detached from the cement paste. Often, these gaps become filled with ettringite;
the ettringite does not form a strong bond between the paste and aggregate and
so the concrete is still weakened.
Conditions necessary for DEF to occur are:
High temperature (>70 C approx.), usually during curing but not

necessarily.
Water - intermittent or permanent saturation after curing. An ettringite

molecule contains 32 molecules of water so ettringite formation evidently
requires wet conditions.
The effect of cement composition on DEF is not well understood. Some factors
correlate strongly but the causes are not clear. In laboratory tests, DEF expansion
has been shown to correlate positively with cement-related factors, including:

high sulfate
high alkali
high MgO
cement fineness
high C3A
high C3S
A pessimum cement sulfate content of 4%, at which maximum expansion occurs,

has been suggested (3); this sulfate level is higher than permitted in some
national standard specifications for cement. Composite cements tend to show
good resistance to DEF.
In laboratory tests, limestone coarse aggregate has been found to reduce

expansion, although, as shown in Figures 9.8-9.9, the use of limestone aggregate
does not confer immunity. In general, careful control of curing temperature has
proved to be a reliable precaution against DEF.
Expansion due to DEF and ASR have been linked; in one study, initial expansion
due to ASR was enhanced by subsequent expansion due to DEF (4).
From the above, you will probably have guessed that delayed ettringite formation
is not fully understood.
9.2.3 Thaumasite form of sulfate attack (TSA)
The thaumasite form of sulfate attack (often abbreviated to TSA) requires

sources of sulfate and carbonate. Thaumasite occurs as a natural mineral as an
alteration product of limestone, although it is rare.
Thaumasite can form in both concrete and mortar. The normal cement hydration
products, mainly calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide, are decomposed
as a result of both sulfate attack and of carbonation. Thaumasite itself is a weak
and friable mineral, so when it replaces the calcium silicate hydrate, the concrete
is severely weakened.
Thaumasite has the chemical formula:
[Ca3Si(OH)6.12H2O] (SO4)(CO3)
or
CaSiO3.CaCO3.CaSO4.15H2O

It tends to form at low temperatures, typically about 4 C - 10 C. As it forms,

the concrete or mortar converts to a friable material, often described as a
mush. Concrete severely affected by thaumasite formation can easily be broken
with the fingers and the coarse aggregate lifted out.
A source of additional water is also required for thaumasite formation. Damp

cementitious render over brickwork, especially where the render is cracked, and
concrete and masonry in cool, damp cellars are typical examples of where
thaumasite may occur.
Normal sulfate attack usually results in the formation of ettringite. This uses
aluminium provided by the cement and clearly this is limited in quantity in
normal concrete. However, thaumasite formation does not involve aluminium;
given an adequate supply of sulfate and carbonate, thaumasite can continue to
form until the calcium silicate hydrate is completely decomposed. Consequently,
while the use of sulfate-resisting Portland cement provides some defence against
normal sulfate attack, it does not give any particular protection against
thaumasite formation.
Sulfate can be supplied from a range of sources; groundwater or bricks are

common examples, or oxidation of sulfide aggregate. Carbonate can be supplied
from atmospheric CO2 or from limestone present in the concrete or mortar.
Serious damage in concrete due to thaumasite formation is not common, even in

cool, damp climates, but it can occur.
Figure 9.12 Polished section showing degraded

concrete containing white crystalline thaumasite
formed around coarse limestone aggregate (large
dark particles) and in cracks. Examples of thaumasite
are arrowed. This polished section was 40mm in
diameter but thaumasite formation is so extensive
that it requires little magnification to be clearly
visible.

9.2.4 Sulfate attack in mortar
Sulfate attack in mortar can be due to similar causes as sulfate attack in

concrete. Sources of sulfate are typically the cement in the mortar, sulfate in
bricks or stone and sulfate in groundwater, or a combination of these sources.
Damage in mortar, or render, can be due to expansive ettringite formation,

causing loss of bonding between cement paste and sand, and between the
cement paste and the brick or stonework. The mortar becomes friable, with
cracking and scaling readily visible. Often, however, ettringite is present in voids
in masonry, where it causes little or no damage; air-entrained mortar contains
numerous voids in which ettringite can form without exerting an expansive force.
Efflorescence (Chapter 9.7) may be associated with sulfate attack, with white
crystalline growth on the surface of the damaged masonry or render.
Damage to mortar, and masonry generally, can be due to the formation of

crystals of sodium, potassium or magnesium sulfate within the mortar, brick,
stone or render; these can exert an expansive force on crystallisation and
damage may be severe. Magnesium sulfate can be especially damaging.
Damage due to thaumasite formation in masonry can occur, especially in cold,

damp conditions where there is also a source of carbonate. The carbonate may
be present in cement, stone or groundwater. TSA in masonry typically occurs in
cold, wet conditions such as cellars in cool climates, or foundations.
DEF would not normally be expected to occur in mortar unless the mortar had
been heated by an external source; the heat of hydration of the cement would
normally be dissipated by the bricks or stone.
9.2.5 Identification of sulfate attack
Severe damage to concrete and mortar can be readily identified from visual
inspection. A range of different analytical techniques can be used to confirm that
sulfate attack has occurred. A calculation of the cement content by chemical
analysis, together with a determination of the sulfate content, can indicate that it
may have occurred if the sulfate content is appreciably higher than would be
expected from sulfate normally present in the cement. This is perhaps the
simplest test, although it is not conclusive - for example it would not normally
indicate that DEF had occurred, since sulfate will probably not be present in
excess.
X-ray diffraction may indicate the presence of gypsum and ettringite, or

thaumasite; if present in appreciable amounts, sulfate attack is likely to have
occurred.

Generally, the best technique for identifying sulfate attack is microscopic

examination of concrete cores. This could be a petrographic examination of the
concrete in thin-sections, or by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray
microanalysis using polished sections.
9.3 Carbonation
Although included in this chapter on deleterious processes, not all of the effects
of carbonation on concrete are bad. It increases concrete density and so reduces
permeability. Carbonation is associated with the corrosion of steel reinforcement
and with shrinkage but it also increases both the compressive and tensile
strength of concrete.
Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide dissolves in the pore fluid of the
concrete to produce carbonate ions. These react with calcium to produce calcium
carbonate, usually in the form of calcite, although aragonite can form in hot
conditions.
Because the process involves dissolved carbon dioxide, a film of pore fluid on the
hydration products in the concrete is necessary for carbonation to occur. As
carbonation proceeds, calcium is supplied by the calcium hydroxide in the cement
paste, and also by the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). Calcium hydroxide is
depleted and the ratio of calcium to silicon in the C-S-H decreases. In fully
carbonated cement paste, most of the calcium is present as calcium carbonate.
The C-S-H has lost its calcium and is now an impure silica gel, also containing
aluminium from other cement hydration products and sodium and potassium
from the pore fluid (Figure 9.13).
Saturated concrete carbonates slowly, because the capillary pores in the concrete
are full of water and this inhibits further ingress of water or gas. In permanently
dry conditions, carbonation proceeds slowly or not at all, as there is not enough
water in contact with the hydration products.
Normal wetting and drying of concrete produces conditions conducive to

carbonation, especially by rainwater containing dissolved carbon dioxide, but
carbonation proceeds most rapidly under humid but non-saturated conditions,
with a relative humidity of 50%-70%.
The surface of fresh concrete carbonates very quickly, within a few hours or days,
but the depth to which the concrete is carbonated is, at first, very limited -
perhaps only a few microns.
Over time, the carbonation front gradually moves further into the concrete.
After a year, the distance from the surface that the carbonation front has reached
may be 1 mm to perhaps 5 mm, depending on the permeability of the concrete.
Dense, impermeable, concrete made with a low water/cement ratio will carbonate
much more slowly than porous concrete made using a high water/cement ratio.
Carbonate ions have to travel a greater distance from the surface to the
carbonation front as the carbonation depth increases. Consequently, the rate of
progress into the concrete of the carbonation front gradually slows.

Figure 9.13 SEM image of polished section of

concrete roof tile, approximately one year old. The
carbonation depth can be seen from the grey-level
change of the cement paste at a depth of about
50m from the surface (arrowed).
The depth of the carbonated zone in concrete - often abbreviated to the

carbonation depth - can be measured from the image above, but making a
polished section and using a microscope is a complicated process just to make a
rapid test. A much easier way is to use an indicator sensitive to a suitable pH
value.
Phenolphthalein indicator is commonly used to measure carbonation depth and is

available from chemical suppliers. Phenolphthalein is a white or pale yellow
crystalline material. For use as an indicator it is dissolved in a suitable solvent
such as isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) in a 1% solution. The indicator solution is
a clear liquid but turns purple above a pH of about 8.5.
If you apply phenolphthalein indicator to concrete and it quickly turns purple, the
concrete pore fluid is strongly alkaline. In Figure 9.14, the carbonation depth
shown by this rapid test is clearly about 5mm-7mm. The only tools needed are
the indicator liquid and a hammer and perhaps a cold chisel to fracture the
concrete.
The phenolphthalein indicator solution is applied to a fresh fracture surface of

concrete. If the indicator turns purple, the pH of the concrete pore fluid is above
8.5. Where the solution remains colourless, the pH of the concrete is below 8.5,
suggesting carbonation. A fully-carbonated paste has a pH of about 8.4. In
practice, a paste with a pH of 8.5 may only give a faintly discernible slightly pink
colour. A strong, immediate, colour change to purple suggests a pH that is rather
higher, perhaps pH 9 or 10.

Figure 9.14 Fresh fracture surface through a

concrete slab, with phenolphthalein indicator solution
applied. The indicator has not changed colour near
the top and bottom surfaces, suggesting that these
near-surface regions are carbonated to a depth of at
least 5 mm from the top surface and 7 mm from the
lower surface. Where the indicator has turned purple
- the centre of the slab - the pH of the concrete pore
fluid remains high (above 8.5, probably nearer 10).
Whether the cement paste here is completely
uncarbonated is unclear, despite the strong purple
indicator colour; a more complete assessment would
require microscopic examination.
Warning: both phenolphthalein itself and isopropyl alcohol are harmful

and, since it contains alcohol, the indicator solution is flammable.
Ingestion, or contact with skin or eyes should be avoided, as should
breathing the vapour. Possible effects on the human body include cancer
and damage to kidneys and the central nervous system. For more
information, do an internet search for something like: phenolphthalein
indicator hazard. For example, see:
http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/45376.htm.
Obviously, the phenolphthalein test is rather crude, but its simplicity makes it
very useful. It is important to make sure the concrete surface being tested is a
freshly-fractured surface; testing an old surface wont tell you anything as it will
have started to carbonate. Ideally, you would break the concrete (or take mini-
cores or use drilling dust) then test it immediately.

The carbonation depth is proportional to the square root of time
d=kt
where d is the carbonation depth, t is time and k is a constant of proportionality.
Occasionally, this can be quite useful. Suppose you find that a piece of concrete
that you know to be nine years old has a carbonation depth of 12 mm; for that
piece of concrete in that particular environment, k is therefore 4.
You can then work out the likely carbonation depth at any other time; after three
months it was only 2 mm and after 100 years it will be 40 mm. Dont expect this
relationship between time and carbonation depth to work perfectly. All things
being equal, it should work well. However, in cement and concrete all things are
never equal. Measurement of carbonation depth is imprecise because of
distortions in the carbonation front due to factors such as aggregate, microcracks
and local variations in concrete porosity. Also, the carbonation depth may be
affected locally by wind direction, nearby sources of carbon dioxide (eg: road
traffic) and probably a myriad of other factors.
Also, while the use of phenolphthalein indicator is straightforward and a very

useful test, things are actually a bit more complicated when examined in more
detail.
Normal concrete pore solution is saturated with calcium hydroxide and also
contains sodium and potassium hydroxide; the pH is typically pH 13-14. Concrete
with a pore solution of pH 10-12 is less alkaline than sound concrete, but would
still produce a strong colour change with phenolphthalein indicator. It therefore
follows that the indicator test is likely to underestimate the depth to which
carbonation has occurred, as will be seen below.
Optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy often show indications of

early-stage carbonation even where the phenolphthalein indicator changes colour
to purple. Microscopy shows a gradual transition between concrete near the
surface that is fully carbonated, and concrete at depth that is entirely normal and
uncarbonated.
As an example, Figure 9.15 shows a montage of SEM images of a polished

section from the same concrete slab as the piece shown in Figure 9.14. The
montage extends to a depth of about 7 mm from the surface.
The concrete appears intensely carbonated to a depth of about 4 mm, where

there is a distinct change in the appearance of the paste. Less than 4 mm from
the surface, very little unhydrated cement remains and the paste has converted
almost entirely to calcium carbonate and impure silica gel (see Inset A, 250 m
depth).
Below about 4 mm depth, unhydrated cement particles remain and the paste
microstructure has not obviously altered greatly from its normal, high-alkaline,
state (Inset B, 7 mm depth). However, even here, the paste appears slightly
altered, becoming a little denser and with a loss of calcium hydroxide (compare
with the image in Figure 6.5).

The concrete mid-way through the slab is shown in Figure 9.16. Even here, there
are signs of slight carbonation. X-ray microanalysis of the C-S-H would show a
slight increase in the Si/Ca ratio.
This particular example of concrete paving is clearly porous and permeable.

Microscopy shows indications of carbonation throughout the thickness of the slab,
even though phenolphthalein indicator showed the central region to be
uncarbonated (Figure 9.14). The pH at the slab centre is probably above pH10
(as shown by a rapid colour change on application of the indicator solution) but
below pH13-14 as is normally present in uncarbonated concrete. Denser concrete
would have much smaller carbonation depths and the interior would remain
unaffected by carbonation. The concrete roof tile in Figure 9.13 is an extreme
example in the other direction; after about one year, the dense paste has limited
carbonation to only a few tens of microns.
Nevertheless, despite its limitations, the indicator test is very useful as a means
of making a quick and easy initial assessment and it is very widely used. Use it,
but be aware of its limitations.

A: Depth 250m intensely carbonated
Highly carbonated
~4mm depth
Less carbonated
B: Depth 7mm: less altered by

carbonation than near the surface but
some alteration has still occurred.
See also Figure 9.16.
Figure 9.15 Polished section of concrete from the same slab as in Figure 9.14.

Figure 9.16 View of slab at a depth of about

15mm approximately at the centre, and
about twice the depth shown in Figure 9.15.
Even here, there are signs of slight
carbonation, with little CH visible and a
densification of the microstructure.
9.4 Steel corrosion

The corrosion of steel reinforcement is probably the single most common form of
concrete deterioration. Its importance is demonstrated by the mountain of
literature on the subject and also by the many enterprises specialising in
sophisticated methods of repairing concrete damaged through steel corrosion.
The following is the briefest of summaries describing the problem.
Steel that has sufficient cover of dense, impermeable, concrete (the cover
zone) should last almost indefinitely, as the alkaline conditions in the concrete
protect it from corrosion. However, the importance of quality control to ensure
adequate cover cannot be overemphasised; porous and permeable concrete,
made with a high water/cement ratio and containing steel near the surface, is
particularly vulnerable to damage.
Normally, a thin layer of iron oxide called the passivation layer around the steel
prevents it from oxidising further. Provided the pH of the pore fluid remains high
(above approximately 11.5), the steel should remain in good condition. However,
if the alkalinity of the surrounding concrete pore fluid falls, as occurs when
concrete carbonates, the passivation layer is lost and the steel corrodes.
The corrosion process is expansive due to the formation of rust. This causes
pressure to be exerted on the surrounding concrete, resulting in cracking and
spalling. Also, the bond between the steel and the surrounding concrete is
weakened or broken and the steel is weakened through becoming thinner. In
addition to damage to the concrete, the benefits of the presence of the steel
reinforcement are therefore also lost.

The passivation layer is impaired in the presence of chloride, even if the pH

remains high. This effect is particularly important in concrete used in highway
structures where de-icing salt is used, and also in marine environments such as
harbours or sea defences.
The corrosion process is electrochemical, with electrical cells forming due to

variations within the steel or concrete. These variations could be due to small-
scale damage to the steel oxide layer, or to physical or chemical variability within
the concrete.
For corrosion to occur, the steel must be in contact with the pore solution, which
acts as the electrolyte. Oxygen must be also present. This need for oxygen
means that corrosion may not occur in carbonated concrete provided it is
sufficiently dense to restrict the supply of oxygen.
For corrosion to be induced by chloride, the chloride ions have first to penetrate
the concrete. The permeability of the concrete will be important in controlling
how quickly chloride can diffuse through the microstructure and reach the steel.
An additional factor affecting the rate of corrosion is the extent to which the
cement hydration products can bind chloride ions; AFm phase can bind chloride
to form Friedel's salt (C3A.CaCl2.10H2O). Friedels salt is frequently seen when
using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis to examine concrete
in polished section that has been exposed to road de-icing salt.
9.5 Leaching
Leaching in concrete is the process by which soluble material is extracted from
the concrete by flowing water. The water may flow over the concrete surface, or
percolate through cracks. Water readily extracts sodium and potassium hydroxide
from the concrete pore fluid, lowering the pH; it also progressively dissolves
calcium hydroxide and decomposes calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), ettringite
and AFm phase.
Since it is C-S-H that gives concrete its strength, C-S-H decomposition gradually
reduces the strength of the affected concrete until it disintegrates. Calcium is
leached from the C-S-H, leaving an impure hydrous silica gel. As leaching
progresses, the concrete becomes more porous and permeable (Figure 9.17) and
may also be susceptible to damage by other mechanisms such as frost attack.

Figure 9.17 SEM image of a polished section

showing concrete that was once dense but is
now highly porous due to the loss of hydration
product due to leaching. Even where the paste
remains, it is clearly porous and weak and
extensively carbonated. Black areas are pores
filled with epoxy resin when the polished
section was prepared.
Dense concrete, made using a low water/cement ratio mix, is obviously likely to
be less affected by leaching than porous concrete made using a high
water/cement ratio mix. Other factors affecting how quickly leaching can damage
concrete include whether the water is hard or soft, water temperature and what
is already dissolved in the water. Concrete exposed to acidic water, such as from
peaty moorland, is particularly at risk.
9.6 Frost damage (freeze-thaw action)

Freezing conditions can damage concrete, particularly where there is a repeating
pattern of freezing followed by thawing. In laboratory tests, the number of
freeze-thaw cycles a particular concrete can undergo before showing signs of
damage is a measure of the concretes ability to withstand frost damage.
The affected concrete surface typically has a rough appearance, with flakes of
concrete gradually becoming detached.
Porous and permeable concrete, made with a high water/cement ratio, is

particularly susceptible to damage. Conversely, dense, impermeable concrete
made with a low water/cement ratio is resistant to damage.
Air entrainment of concrete can greatly improve the resistance of concrete and
mortar to frost damage. A surfactant admixture is used to lower the surface
tension of the pore fluid, resulting in the entrapped air in the concrete being
distributed between myriads of tiny bubbles. These small voids are typically
10m-200m in diameter.

The voids prevent or limit damage by providing space into which the pore fluid
can expand on freezing. To be effective, the voids need to be closely spaced. The
void spacing factor is the average value of the maximum distance from any
point in the paste to the nearest void. Typical values range from 100m -200m
but the void spacing factor necessary to give good frost protection varies from
one concrete to another.
Figure 9.18 Bridge parapet damaged by

frost, Scotland. Note scaling of concrete
surface and exposed aggregate.
9.7 Efflorescence on masonry

Efflorescence often occurs on masonry, especially in damp climates. It does not
usually indicate that sulfate attack has occurred in the sense that physical
damage has been caused.
Most efflorescence is due to soluble salts such as sodium or potassium sulfate on

the surface of new masonry. It normally disappears over the course of a year or
so after construction and any damage is usually aesthetic rather than physical.
The sulfate salts are typically derived mainly from the cement, although brick or
stone may also contribute to efflorescence if they also contain soluble sulfate
salts.
The problem is more likely to occur where bricks have been left unprotected and
are saturated before construction.

Figure 9.19 Efflorescence on recently-built

wall, south-east England.
Photo courtesy Peter-William Eaves, MRICS.
Occasionally, efflorescence can be of a more persistent form, usually composed of

gypsum or syngenite; once it has appeared on the surface of masonry it is
probably permanent unless removed. It can be associated with the use of non-
standard air-entraining agents in the mortar, such as washing-up liquid (5),
although other causes are possible.
1. Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, Thomas Telford, 2nd ed. 1997 p273

4. S Diamond and S Ong, Cement Technology (Ceramic Transactions, Vol 40,
p79). Eds. Gartner and Uchikawa, American Ceramic Society, 1994.
5. 'Investigation into causes of persistent efflorescence on masonry.' G K
Bowler and N B Winter, Masonry International 11, 1, 1997.
Alkali-silica reaction:
Concrete Society Report TR 30: Alkali-Silica Reaction - Minimizing the risk of

damage to concrete, published by the Concrete Society in the United Kingdom.
Price: 90.00.
BRE Digest 330, 2004: Alkali-silica reaction in concrete: 2004 edition - four part
set.

Alkali carbonate reaction:
Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, Thomas Telford, 2nd ed. 1997, p383.
Leas Chemistry of Cement and Concrete, 4th edition, ed. Peter Hewlett,
Elsevier, 1998, p964.
Delayed ettringite formation:
Lawrence C D Laboratory Studies of Concrete Expansion Arising from Delayed

Ettringite Formation, (1993) published by the British Cement Association.
Lawrence C D (1995) in Cement and Concrete Research, Vol 25, p903.
Kelham S (1996) in Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 18, p171.
Steel Corrosion
Or, for (much) more detail, see:
Corrosion of Steel in Concrete: Understanding, Investigation and Repair, John P

Broomfield, 2006, Published by Taylor & Francis. ISBN-13: 978-0415334044.
Leaching
Air entrainment
Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, Thomas Telford, 2nd ed. 1997 p328.
ASTM C457-09 Standard Test Method for Microscopical Determination of

Parameters of the Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete. ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, PA, USA. Available for download from: www.astm.org. Price
$43.00.

10 Standard Specifications for Portland Cement
Cement is one of the materials fundamental to the infrastructure of the modern

world. In many countries, cement was one of the first materials for which a
standard specification was devised.
For example, one of the first specifications drawn up by the British Standards
Institute after it was formed in 1901 was a standard specification for Portland
cement (BS 12, 1904). Other early specifications were for electric power cables
(BS 7), steel for use in railway lines or railroad tracks (BS 11), tramway and dock
rails and fishplates (BS 2) and steel for steam boilers (BS 14). Such materials
were fundamental to the brave new world of industrial society and so these were
the priorities for quality control.
Cement was fundamental then and it still is, of course. This e-book is not really
about standards but about the principles of how cement works but well just have
a quick look at two important cement standards.
While Portland cement is basically limestone and clay (or other suitable
materials) heated at around 1450 C, standards for Portland cement differ in
detail. The compositional requirements differ to some extent and the methods of
testing cements for compliance with the standards are also different.
The two principal worldwide standards for Portland cement are: EN 197-1
(Europe) and ASTM C 150 (USA). Additionally, although no longer used in the
United Kingdom, the British Standard BS12: 1996 is still often specified in
international cement trading.
EN 197-1 covers not only Portland cement but also cements containing Portland
cement and other materials. ASTM C150 applies to Portland cement only.
Standard Specifications for Portland Cement
10.1 ASTM C 150-07

The ASTM Portland cement standard current at the time of writing is:
C 150-07 Standard Specification for Portland Cement
Five types of Portland cement are described (Table 10.1), with three more air-
entrained sub-types.
Table 10.1 Portland cement types described in ASTM C150-07.

Type I For use when the special properties specified for any other types
are not required.
Type IA Air-entraining cement for the same uses as Type I, where air-
entrainment is desired.
Type II For general use, more especially when moderate sulfate resistance
or moderate heat of hydration is desired.
Type IIA Air-entraining cement for the same uses as Type II, where air-
Type III For use when high early strength is desired.
Type IIIA Air-entraining cement for the same uses as Type III, where air-
Type IV For use when a low heat of hydration is desired
Type V For use when high sulfate resistance is desired.
Specified constituents of the cement are limited to:
Portland cement clinker.
Water or calcium sulfate or both: includes gypsum and other forms of

calcium sulfate and associated bound water; also any other bound water
such as may occur in hydration products if the cement should have
hydrated slightly.
Limestone, up to 5% by mass.
Processing additions (small amounts of material to aid in the production or

handling of the cement, eg: grinding aids, kiln dust).
Air-entraining addition (for air-entraining cements).
Compositional and physical requirements are given for each of the cement types,
with references to appropriate ASTM test methods.
Annex A1 of the standard shows how to calculate the potential cement phase
composition. This calculation allows for the presence of calcium sulfate and
interground limestone by using a modified form of the traditional Bogue

calculation.
The quantity of limestone in the cement is calculated on the basis of the

measured carbon dioxide content of the cement and of the limestone used. A
sample Mill Test Report is shown, indicating the chemical and physical
requirements of the specification.
Some other cement-related ASTM standards
Cements containing other constituents such as fly ash and slag are specified in:
ASTM C595 / C595M-09 Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic

Cements
and
ASTM C1157 / C1157M-09 Standard Performance Specification for

Hydraulic Cement
The USA currently uses a lower proportion of composite (blended) cements

compared with Europe or Asia. The performance and environmental benefits of
using composite cements may result in their increased use over time.
Methods of cement analysis are specified in:
ASTM C114-09 Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic

Cement.
Other relevant standards include:
ASTM C109 / C109M - 08 Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength

of Hydraulic Cement Mortars using 2 in. or 50 mm cube specimens
ASTM C115 - 96a (2003) Standard Test Method for Fineness of Portland
Cement by the Turbidimeter
ASTM C183 - 08 Standard Practice for Sampling and the Amount of
Testing of Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C186 - 05 Standard Test Method for Heat of Hydration of Hydraulic
Cement
ASTM C191 - 08 Standard Test Methods for Time of Setting of Hydraulic
Cement by Vicat Needle
ASTM C266 - 08 Standard Test Method for Time of Setting of Hydraulic-
Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles

10.2 European Standard EN-197

The principal European standard for cements current at the time of writing is:
EN 197-1:2000 Cement Composition, specifications and conformity

criteria for common cements.
This standard covers twenty-seven common cement types available in Europe

under five general headings, including Portland cement.
Cements are specified by both their constituents and by their strength class.
Initially, this looks a bit complicated but all will become clear.
10.2.1 European Standard EN-197, composition
First, we need to look at the cement constituents; these dictate the basic cement
type (Table 10.2).
Table 10.2 Types of cement described in EN 197-1.

Designation Description
CEM I Portland cement, with up to 5% of minor additional constituents (macs)
CEM II Portland-composite cements: Portland cement with up to 35% of other
single constituents, including:
Portland-fly ash cement (CEM II/A-V, CEM II/B-V)
Portland-slag cement (CEM II/A-S, CEM II/B-S)
Portland-limestone cement (CEM II/A-L (LL), CEM II/B-L (LL)
Portland-silica fume cement (CEM II/A-D)
CEM III Blastfurnace cements: Portland cement with more than 35% blastfurnace
slag:
(CEM III/A, CEM III/B, CEM III/C)
CEM IV Pozzolanic cements Portland cement with more than 35% pozzolana (CEM
IV/A, CEM IV/B)
CEM V Composite cements: Portland cement with more than 35% blastfurnace
slag and pozzolana or fly ash
To be designated as CEM cement of any type containing Portland cement and

additions, the cement has to be factory-produced by either blending or inter-
grinding.
A CEM I cement contains the maximum amount of cement clinker (up to

100%, less gypsum).
A CEM I cement is therefore a basic Portland cement.
CEM II, CEM III, CEM IV and CEM V cements all contain Portland cement
mixed with other materials.
There is also provision for low-heat cements.

Macs
All types of cement may contain up to 5% macs. Macs are minor additional
constituents. Typical examples of macs are fine limestone, kiln dust or fly ash. A
cement containing a mac is considered for specification purposes to be the same
as if the mac were not present and the cement has to meet the same
performance criteria.
For example, a CEM I cement is a Portland cement. A CEM I cement with 5%

limestone as a mac is also a Portland cement and should have the same
characteristics for setting time, strength, soundness and composition as if the
mac were not present.
Codes
Other than for CEM I, the following codes are necessary in order to interpret the
cement types:
The suffix A means a low level of addition of the mineral addition and the
suffix B means a high level of mineral addition (Table 10.3). For CEM III
blastfurnace cements, suffixes A, B and C indicate increasing proportions of
slag.
For the CEM II cement type, codes for the second main constituent are
specified as follows:
S blastfurnace slag
D silica fume
P natural pozzolana
Q natural calcined pozzolana
V siliceous fly ash
W calcareous fly ash
L or LL limestone (LL means high-purity limestone)
T burnt shale
M two or more of the above

Table 10.3 EN 197-1 CEM II cements: these are some of the more common
cement types.
Designation Name Second main % Second % Clinker
constituent main
constituent
CEM II/A-S Portland-slag Blastfurnace 6-20 80-94
cement slag
CEM II/B-S Portland-slag Blastfurnace 21-35 65-79
cement slag
CEM II/A-D Portland-silica Silica fume 6-10 90-94
fume cement
CEM II/A-V Portland fly- Fly ash 6-20 80-94
ash cement
CEM II/B-V Portland fly- Fly ash 21-35 65-79
ash cement
CEM II/A-L (or Portland- Limestone 6-20 80-94
-LL) limestone
cement
CEM II/B-L (or Portland- Limestone 21-35 65-79
LL) limestone
cement
As will be inferred from the list of codes for the second CEM II constituent, the
list of cement types in Table 10.3 is not complete; the cements shown are the
more common types but there are others specified in the standard, containing for
example, calcareous fly ash or burnt shale.
10.2.2 European Standard EN-197, strength classes
Cements are also specified according to their strength class. Three standard
strength classes are defined, based on the minimum 28-day mortar prism
strength:
32,5
42,5
52,5
(NB: The use of the comma is part of the specification; units are MPa.)
Additionally, early strength development is indicated by a suffix:
L: Low early strength

N: Normal early strength
R: High early strength
The minimum and maximum strengths of the three strength classes are shown
below (Table 10.4).

Table 10.4 EN 197-1 cement strength classes for all CEM cements.
Strength Minimum Minimum Minimum Maximum
class 2-day strength 7-day 28-day 28-day
strength strength strength
32,5 N - 16 32,5 52,5
32,5 R 10 - 32,5 52,5
42,5 N 10 - 42,5 62,5
42,5 R 20 - 42,5 62,5
52,5 N 20 - 52,5 -
52,5 R 30 - 52,5 -
For example, a bag of cement labelled:
CEM I 52,5 R
is a high early strength Portland cement producing at least 52.5 MPa at 28 days
and at least 30 MPa at 2 days, based on mortar prism strength tests.
Two more examples:
CEM II/A-LL 42,5N: this is a Portland composite cement with a low proportion of
the second constituent (the A), the second constituent being high-purity
limestone (the LL). The proportions would be 80%-94% Portland cement clinker
and 6%-20% high-purity limestone. The cement is classed as producing normal
strength development (the N): at least 42.5 MPa at 28 days and at least 10
MPa at 2 days, based on mortar prism strength tests.
(CEM II/B-V 32,5R): this is a Portland composite cement with a high proportion
of the second constituent (the B), the second constituent being siliceous fly
ash. The proportions would be 65%-79% clinker and 21%-35% fly ash. The
cement is classed as producing rapid strength development, at least 10 MPa at 2
days, and at least 32.5 MPa at 28 days, based on mortar prism strength tests.
There are additional low early strength classes for CEM III cements covered by
EN 197-4:2004.
Although the system may appear complex, the combination of the cement
designation and the strength class conveys a lot of information very succinctly. It
tells you what the cement contains, and in roughly what proportions; it also
indicates the early and the 28-day strengths based on the standard mortar prism
test.
You might have noticed a significant omission in CEM I there is no sulfate-

resisting Portland cement. Progress on a European standard for sulfate-resisting
Portland cement has been slow and, in the UK, for example, SRPC is still covered
by residual British Standard BS 4027 although this is largely academic since
SRPC is no longer manufactured in the UK.

Where sulfate resistance is required, in most concrete used in Europe now it is

achieved by using mixes containing Portland cement and mineral additions such
as slag or fly ash to achieve satisfactory sulfate resistance.
Some other cement-related European standards
Cements with a very low heat of hydration are specified as Special and are
included in EN 14216; these have a characteristic heat of hydration of not more
than 220 J/g.
BS EN 14216:2004 Cement: composition, specifications and conformity

criteria for very low heat special cements
Also:
BS EN 197-4:2004 Composition, specifications and conformity criteria for low

early strength blastfurnace cements
The standard for the testing of cement is EN 196-series: methods of testing

cement. There are ten of these but one is missing:
EN 196-1: 2005 Methods of testing cement. Determination of strength

EN 196-2: 2005 Methods of testing cement. Chemical analysis of cement
EN 196-3: 2005 Methods of testing cement. Determination of setting time
and soundness
There is no Number Four!1
EN 196-5: 2005 Methods of testing cement. Pozzolanicity test for
pozzolanic cements
EN 196-6: 1992 Methods of testing cement. Determination of fineness
EN 196-7: 2007 Methods of testing cement. Methods of taking and
preparing samples of cement
EN 196-8: 2003 Methods of testing cement. Heat of hydration. Solution
method
EN 196-9: 2003 Methods of testing cement. Heat of hydration. Semi-
adiabatic method
EN 196-10: 2006 Methods of testing cement. Determination of the water
soluble chromium (VI) content of cement
1
EN 196-4 is absent because of practical difficulties in distinguishing some constituents chemically in
cement, such as microsilica. A draft text for Part 4 is in Technical Report CEN/TR 196-4: 2007
Methods of testing cement - quantitative determination of constituents. This gives a useful guide to
techniques.

10.3 Other specified cement properties

Both the ASTM C150 and EN 197-1 standards specify other physical and chemical
properties, including: composition, loss on ignition, insoluble residue, setting
times, limits on minor oxides (EN 197-1: SO3, clinker MgO, Cl); (C 150: SO3,
MgO) and limits on expansion using prescribed tests.
10.4 Dont ever mix the standards!

The distinctions between different Portland cement types made by ASTM C150-7
have no parallel in EN 197-1, where all Portland cement is CEM I. The majority of
CEM I cement will be, roughly speaking, similar to ASTM Type I or II cements,
but that this is not to say that they are necessarily equivalent.
While the compositional criteria for Portland cements under EN-197 and C 150
Portland cements may be broadly similar, they are not identical and the testing
procedures are quite different. For example:
The upper limit for loss on ignition for CEM I cements under EN-197 is
5%; under ASTM C 150-07 it is 3.0% for all types except Type IV, where
the limit is 2.5%.
The upper limit for Insoluble Residue under EN-197 for CEM I is 5%;
under ASTM C 150-07 it is 0.75% for all cement types.
EN-197 uses mortar prisms to evaluate strengths while C 150 specifies a

mortar cube test; the mortar compositions are different and the strength
data from these different tests are not interchangeable.
If you were just laying a base for your garden shed, you might not worry too
much about the details of the specification process. However, suppose you were
an engineer on a major construction project who authorised the use of a cement
other than that specified. Faced with newspaper headlines like:
Hundreds crushed as new hotel collapses-wrong cement used
you would not be starting from a strong position in trying to argue that the
cement had not contributed to the problem, whether or not it actually had. So,
dont mix the standards.

The most useful further reading would clearly be to obtain copies of the
standard(s) most relevant to your location. Note that all standards are copyright.
C 150-07
ASTM Standard C 150-07, 2007, "Standard Specification for Portland Cement,"
ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA. Available for download from:
www.astm.org
Price $37.00.
EN 197-1
BS EN 197-1:2000 Cement. Composition, specifications and conformity criteria
for common cements. Available for download from the British Standards
Institute shop at:
www.bsigroup.com/en/
Price 168.00 (UK Pounds).
(No, that isnt a typo EN 197-1 will cost you 168, or very roughly $275 US at
the exchange rate at the time of writing. However, you do get 52 pages,
compared with 8 pages for ASTM C 150-07, and EN 197-1 covers a wide range of
cements not just Portland cement.)

11 Cement concepts
So far we have looked at many individual components of cement and concrete.

Each one of these is necessary; now we can bring them all together to form a
more complete picture. What follows is partly revision, but we will look at cement
from a different perspective and apply what we covered in the previous chapters.
In the first part of this chapter, we are going to look at the two principal ways
that cements for different applications can be produced:
Modify the Portland cement clinker
Combine Portland cement with other materials, eg: slag, fly ash
In the second part of this chapter, we dig deeper. The aim is to develop an
intuitive understanding, a minds eye image in order to visualise both clinker
and hydrating systems.
11.1 Altering the properties of cement

First, lets look at two different approaches to producing cements that have
different characteristics, then in the next section we can practise visualising them
using our minds eye image.
The requirements of cement differ depending how concrete (or mortar) made
from it is to be used. For example, pre-cast products usually need a cement that
gives high early strength so that the concrete can be de-moulded and the moulds
re-used. Large pours of concrete need a cement with low heat of hydration to
minimise thermal cracking. Where sulfate is present in groundwater, the concrete
needs to be resistant to deterioration through sulfate attack.
These different demands need different cements with which to make the
concrete.
The characteristics of Portland cement can be altered in two principal ways. The
Cement concepts
first is to modify the cement clinker to produce the desired characteristics and
the second is to mix Portland cement with other materials such as slag or fly ash.
The first approach is exemplified in the American ASTM C 150 standard

specification, which describes five different types of Portland cements, neglecting
a further three air-entrained sub-types. ASTM C 150, particularly Table 1, is an
elegant and concise summary of how to control the properties of Portland cement
by varying its composition.
The second approach can be seen in the European EN-197 standard specification,
which describes only one Portland cement, CEM I, and a long list of other
cements containing mixtures of Portland cement and other materials.
Of course, blended cements are available in the USA, and some concrete in
Europe is still made with CEM I only, although the proportion has been
decreasing for some years. In the UK, CEM I is still available in bulk, but in
bagged form it is scarce, except for white cement. Typically, a bag of cement at a
builders merchant is CEM II/A-LL, a Portland-limestone cement, or CEM II/B-V, a
Portland-fly ash cement.
11.1.1 Altering the properties of cement: modify the Portland

cement
High early strength:
Suppose you wanted to make a high early strength Portland cement. You would
want to produce a clinker that had a high alite content and a low belite content,
since alite is more reactive than belite. You might also want to increase the alkali
content, as this will increase the alkalinity of the cement pore fluid and accelerate
hydration; of course, this might lead to problems with alkali-silica reaction if
reactive aggregates are present in the concrete, but here we are just talking
about principles.
You would also grind the cement finer as smaller particles will react more quickly.
You might also produce a mineralised cement; alite in mineralised cement is
more reactive than alite in normal Portland cement.
Of the above approaches, the two most commonly used are finer grinding of the
cement and increasing the alite content.
In ASTM C150-7, there are no particular limits on C3S and C2S contents for Type
III cement but the limits for fineness applicable to other cements are removed,
and minimum one-day compressive strengths are specified together with higher
minimum compressive strengths at 3 days than for other cements.
In EN 197, the specification for high early strength CEM I is similarly empirical
the cement has to meet the required strengths at 2 days and 28 days for that
strength class.

Cement concepts
Low heat of hydration:
If you wanted to make a cement that had a low heat of hydration, you would
want to limit the proportions of the most reactive clinker minerals, the alite and
aluminate. The cement would then have a substantial belite content.
To illustrate this, the ASTM C 150-7 standard specification prescribes limits for
the clinker phases in cements of low or moderate heat of hydration:
For a Type II cement (moderate sulfate resistance or moderate heat of

hydration) the specified maximum C3A content is 8% and the sum
(C3S+4.75C3A) must be 100 or less. (Note the weighting applied to the
C3A; this is because it is highly reactive, generating heat quickly, and
because limiting the C3A content reduces the potential for sulfate attack).
For a Type IV cement (low heat of hydration), the maximum C3S content
is limited to 35% and there should be at least 40% C2S. Also, the
maximum permitted C3A content is 7%.
(NB: phase proportions here are calculated using the prescribed Bogue-type
formula; these limits do not apply in C 150-07 if optional heat of hydration limits
are to be applied).
Sulfate-resisting:
To make a sulfate-resisting Portland cement, the main consideration would be to

minimise the C3A content by making a clinker with a low Alumina Ratio; normally,
this would be achieved by adding an iron-rich component to the raw feed.
Instead of producing C3A, most of the aluminium will be then present in the
ferrite phase, which will have a higher ratio of iron to aluminium compared with
the ferrite in normal Portland cements. The objective in minimising the aluminate
content is obviously to limit the potential for the formation of ettringite in sulfate-
rich environments.
In ASTM C 150-7, the cement C3A content is limited to a maximum of 5%;

Annex A1 provides a modified calculation for the ferrite phase content if the
cement AR is less than 0.64, on the basis that such cements will not contain any
C3A.

Cement concepts
11.1.2 Altering the properties of cement: combine Portland

cement with other materials
Weve just seen that one way of varying cement properties is to adjust the
composition of the Portland cement clinker. Another way is to blend Portland
cement with other cementitious materials, just as the Romans did when they
blended lime mixed with volcanic glass or ground brick and tile to produce
pozzolanic cements.
In the terminology of the European cement standard EN-197, mixtures of

Portland cement with other cementitous mineral additions are called Portland
composite cements if they are produced at the cement plant by intergrinding or
blending1. If mixed by blending at the concrete batching plant, they are
combination cements. In American usage, mixtures of Portland cement with
other cementitious materials are widely known as blended cements whether
blended or interground.
Here, we will use composite cements to mean blended cements with at least
two cementitious components, regardless of how or where they were blended.
Taking the three headings as before for variants of Portland cements:
High early strength:
To make a high early strength cement, the simplest approach to achieve the
highest early strengths would be not to blend anything with Portland cement;
most materials you might add, such as slag or fly ash, react more slowly than
Portland cement. However, microsilica and metakaolin are highly reactive and
may improve early strengths. Sprayed concrete mixes may contain metakaolin or
microsilica. Mixes of Portland cement and CAC can give early strength due to
flash setting.
Composite cements may be designated an R suffix under EN-197, indicating

high early strength, but in this context, high early strength is a relative
concept. Composite cements with the R suffix are almost always in the 32,5 or
42,5 strength classes and only have to achieve 10 MPa or 20 MPa respectively at
2 days. For the highest strength class, 52,5, a cement has to achieve 30 MPa at 2
days; 52,5 R cements are almost all CEM I (ie: pure Portland cements) ground to
increased fineness and often with raised alite contents.
1
Intergrinding means that the additional material (eg: slag or fly ash) is added to the clinker in the
cement mill. Blending means that the materials are mixed in some other way, usually using
specialised dry-blending equipment.

Cement concepts
Low heat of hydration:
Combining other cementitious materials with Portland cement is an ideal way to

produce a cement with low heat of hydration. Composite cements containing
Portland cement with additions such as fly ash or slag will have a lower heat of
hydration because of the slower rate of reaction of slag and fly ash.
In EN-197 terminology, an example of a low heat cement would be a cement

containing a high proportion of blastfurnace slag: a cement labelled CEM III B
32.5N-LH would contain 66%-80% slag and 20%-34% clinker. The LH suffix
indicates a low heat cement. In EN-197, low heat is defined as a cement with a
characteristic heat of hydration of not more than 270 J/g.
Sulfate-resisting:
Composite cements made with Portland cement and either fly ash or slag can
give at least equivalent sulfate resistance characteristics to that obtained when
using sulfate-resisting Portland cement.
Suitably-designed mixes containing a Portland fly ash cement with, for example,
70% Portland cement and 30% fly ash should have good sulfate-resisting
qualities. Alternatively, a Portland blastfurnace cement could be used with a high
slag content, for example 30% Portland cement and 70% slag.
To give an example of a sulfate-resisting composite cement in terms of the EN

197-1 standard is not possible, since EN 197-1 does not currently cover sulfate-
resisting cements.
However, a cement labelled: CEM II/B-V 32,5R would have a fly ash content of
26% 35% and such cements are sold as having equivalent sulfate resistance to
that of sulfate-resisting Portland cement, if the cement has been shown to meet
additional criteria relating specifically to sulfate resistance. These additional
criteria are not specified in any European standard but in individual national
standards and the cement is labelled with an additional suffix, eg: +SR.
However, these bureaucratic niceties are not what we are focussing on here; the
main point is that composite cements containing slag or fly ash can offer
equivalent, or even better, performance for sulfate-resistance compared with
sulfate-resisting Portland cement.
Other benefits revisited:
The headings above dont really do justice to the positive characteristics of

composite cements, so, by way of revision, here are some more (see Chapter 7
for more detail):
Depending on composition, in addition to reduced heat of hydration and better

sulfate resistance, benefits of composite cements also include: possibly increased

Cement concepts
later strengths; lower permeability and better durability; reduced efflorescence;

reduced shrinkage and creep; reduction in risk of ASR; reduced CO2 emission per
unit volume of cement; reduced consumption of natural resources. In the
interests of balance, we should also say that composite cements are more prone
to carbonation and might want more care with curing.
11.2 A minds eye image of cement

Call it a minds eye image, a conceptual model, or whatever you want;
anything we do is a little easier if we have some idea of the processes involved
and how they work.
If you drive a car, it helps if you know what the gearbox and clutch do in order to
drive it well. You dont have to be able to strip down the engine, but you do need
to have some minds eye image of each of the main parts of the car informing
you what they do and, roughly, how they work in relation to the car controls.
Have you tried to teach an aged relative how to use a computer? They might be
an absolute whizz, of course, but quite often older people have difficulties with
computers because they lack an understanding of them at a conceptual level. You
cant use Microsoft Word by trying to memorise a series of instructions; rote
learning for computers, or other complex systems, just doesnt work.
Similarly, rote learning isnt much good with cement. Most people interested in
cement are interested because they make it or they use it or they are
researching it; whatever your interest or level of understanding, it helps to have
a conceptual model of cement appropriate to the situation.
The model can be simple or complex, depending on what is most useful. A simple
model might be:
Cement is grey powder you use to make concrete that gives you nasty burns if
you get it on your skin.
This is a very useful and practical model that even the most distinguished
professor researching cement should have uppermost in his mind when
concreting his driveway. (If he does concrete his driveway, that is.)
However, having come as far as this, we might perhaps try to come up with
something a bit more illuminating. You should have the essential components of
a better model now, from the previous chapters. All you need to do is to practise
using your minds eye image.
Ive been using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy to examine
cement and concrete since 1981, during which time I must have looked at
thousands of samples of clinker, cement and concrete. My experience of
cementitious materials is therefore primarily visual and so Ive developed very
simple visual models of clinker, cement and concrete, based on standard
images. I use these models automatically, not just when examining material

Cement concepts
microscopically, but whenever Im thinking about cement, or someone is

describing to me a cement-related problem.
I call them models - you could just as well call them techniques or methods. The
point is that they are structured ways of conceptualising cementitious material,
be they clinker or concrete or anything else. They help to understand how
cement made from a particular clinker might behave, and they help to
understand the hydration products that are likely to form from a Portland
cement, or from a composite cement.
By adopting a structured approach to thinking about cement, you can break

down complex problems that appear hopelessly confused at first sight into
manageable pieces you can make sense of more easily. So, while these models
are simple, they are powerful, and therefore very useful. As with all models, they
represent only an approximation to reality; they are each a work in progress
that contains simplifying assumptions. If you wish, you can improve or otherwise
alter them and make them as complicated as you like.
There is one model for clinker and one for hydrating cement. Depending whether
you are a producer of cement or a user, one may be of more general use for you
than the other, but either way, have a go at using both.
Clinker composition: get a minds eye view of Portland cement clinker and
how differences in composition affect cement properties.
Cement hydration: get a minds eye view of the hydration process.
For each of these, there are two basic components:
A concept of a reference material, either clinker or hydrated cement; this

is your archetype.
A structured, logical, approach to working out how the reference material

would change if you changed the inputs.
An archetype is an original model on which something is patterned, (definition

from Nisus Thesaurus).
Inputs here means clinker or cement composition or cement type, or time or

temperature or some other factor.
In other words, you use your minds eye image to view an archetype
that you understand, and then you alter it by gradually adding in new
conditions.

Cement concepts
By changing the inputs, you can adjust the archetype in your mind using
thought experiments to allow for changes in compositions or other
circumstances so that your model is flexible and applicable to a wide range of
materials and situations.
Thought experiments are experiments you dont actually do, of course; instead
you explore ideas. Some thought experiments, like Schrodingers Cat, cant be
done in practice at all; those described here are far less obscure and could be
done in practice, but thought experiments do save a lot of time.
If you can use your minds eye image to work through each of the thought
experiments in the following two sections, you will have working conceptual
models that you can apply to cement clinker and to hydrating systems. You
might develop the models further over the years by refining them or adding new
pieces, and that would be very valuable, but the basic models, as described here,
should serve most people well for a long time.
Some of these thought experiments are easier than others. If you find any of
them difficult, dont worry. Come back to them again later and they should all
make sense eventually.
11.3 Cement clinker

If you are involved in cement manufacturing, this section is important because it
focuses on ideas that are fundamental to the chemistry of Portland cement
production. If you dont make cement but you use it or have some other interest
in it, this section is still important to you because it illustrates some of the basic
reasons why cement properties may change. If the cement you had delivered on
Thursday seems to be behaving differently from the cement you received on
Monday, the key parameters discussed here would be a good place to start
looking for the cause.
The starting point of these thought experiments is an image of the minerals in a

Portland cement clinker as seen in polished section, see Figures 11.1 and 11.2
below. Get this image fixed in your mind; this is your clinker archetype, the
starting point for your minds eye view.
Focus on it, remember it, visualise it and get to know it so you can recognise the
clinker minerals. Once it is firmly fixed in your mind, you can start to play with it
and adjust it using thought experiments based on the clinker compositional
parameters for Lime Saturation Factor, Silica Ratio and Alumina Ratio.

Cement concepts
Figure 11.1 Clinker archetype, SEM image Figure 11.2 Clinker archetype, same image
of polished section. Key: a-alite; b-belite; as in Figure 11.1 but without the distraction
c-aluminate (C3A); f-ferrite. Black areas of the labels.
are pores filled with epoxy resin.
Whats special about this clinker? you may ask. Well, the point about this
clinker is that there is nothing special about it. It is just a normal, well-produced
clinker although perhaps a little slow-cooled. It is a typical clinker and we'll
assume it could equally well be used to produce cement compliant with either
ASTM C 150 Type I, or EN-197 CEM I.
Look at the individual crystals of clinker minerals. Identify the alite crystals. Now
look at the belite, the aluminate and the ferrite. Figures 11.1 and 11.2 both show
our standard image; Figure 11.2 is the same image without the labels showing
examples of the four main clinker minerals. You dont want your standard clinker
image to be cluttered with labels - just use the image to get to know what each
of the clinker minerals looks like, then focus on the image without the labels.
To help with adjusting this archetypal image in your minds eye in the thought
experiments that follow, the clinker compositional parameters for Lime Saturation
Factor, Silica Ratio and Alumina Ratio, are shown below for convenience. These
formulae govern the proportions of the clinker minerals and are a big help in
visualising the clinker as its composition changes.
Lime Saturation Factor: LSF=CaO/(2.8SiO2+1.2Al2O3+0.65Fe2O3)

Controls the proportion of calcium silicates present as alite - a higher LSF means
more alite, assuming the clinker is well-burnt with no additional free lime.
(There are other variations of this formula - use one of those if you are more
familiar with it.)
Silica Ratio: SR=SiO2/(Al2O3+Fe2O3)

Controls the proportion of silicate minerals in the clinker, ie: proportion of
(alite+belite).
Alumina Ratio: AR=Al2O3/Fe2O3

Controls the ratio of aluminate to ferrite phases.

Cement concepts
Clinker: thought experiment 1, changing the LSF
Suppose that this image is typical of the clinker produced by a cement plant on a
particular day and that the Lime Saturation Factor (LSF) is 94%, the Silica Ratio
(SR) is 2.5 and the Alumina Ratio (AR) is 1.6. The exact numbers dont matter
too much, we are just going to look at what happens as we change them.
Imagine you alter the raw materials going into the kiln by increasing the
proportion of limestone (assume it is pure calcium carbonate).
The clinker CaO content will increase, and so the LSF will also clearly increase;
the other oxides will decrease. The SR and AR will remain the same.
What effect does this have on your archetypal clinker image?

As you mentally add CaO, the proportion of alite in your standard clinker image
should increase and the proportion of belite should decrease. When you reach an
LSF of 100% there is very little belite, just a mass of alite, and the ferrite and
aluminate phases. This clinker will be harder to burn than the clinker in the
standard clinker image, but cement made from it might have slightly higher early
strengths, so long as the clinker wasnt overburned and all other things were
equal (particularly cement fineness, particle size). The heat of hydration will be
higher because of the increased proportion of alite.
Now imagine increase the LSF to something a little over 100% and visualise free
lime crystals forming - see Figure 3.13 for a picture of free lime in clinker. (Of
course, remember that in reality a little free lime will always occur below an LSF
of 100% due to clinker heterogeneities, especially coarse particles of limestone or
silica in the feed, or if the clinker is underburned, but dont worry about that
now).
Now picture the LSF slowly decreasing from over 100% to about 90%; first,
imagine the free lime disappearing and then the proportion of alite diminishing
and the proportion of belite increasing. This clinker will be much easier to burn,
but cement made from it will have lower early strengths than cement made from
the standard clinker (again, all other things being equal). Later strengths should
largely catch up, though it might take a year or so. The cement will have a lower
heat of hydration.
Clinker: thought experiment 2, changing the SR
Now imagine you increase the Silica Ratio from 2.5 to 2.7 by increasing the
proportion of silica in the raw feed. As the SR increases, the LSF decreases and
the AR stays the same.

The SR governs the proportion of total silicates - alite plus belite, so visualise the
alite and belite increasing and the aluminate plus ferrite decreasing. The AR
remains the same, so the relative proportions of aluminate and ferrite stay the

Cement concepts
same, however, the LSF is reduced, so picture a litle more belite and less alite.
The increased SR means that there will be less liquid, making the clinker harder
to burn; at the same time, though, the LSF is lower, making it easier to burn so
these effects will tend to cancel each other. Overall the clinker burnability may be
broadly similar to our standard clinker. All other things being equal, cement made
from this clinker would have lower early strengths than cement made from the
standard clinker because it contains less alite. However, the later strengths
should be at least as good and possibly better as the total silicate content is
slightly higher.
Now think of reducing the silica in the raw feed and the SR decreasing from 2.7
back through 2.5 down to 2.4. The LSF increases to about 100% and the AR
stays the same. Alite increases markedly and belite becomes scarce, as there is
now sufficient lime to form alite from all the available silica.
There is a little more ferrite and aluminate, in the same ratio as previously, and
fractionally less calcium silicates in total. All other things being equal, cement
made from this clinker would have higher early strengths than cement made
from the standard clinker because it contains more alite. The later strengths may
be fractionally lower as the total calcium silicate content is lower, although the
difference will be small.
Clinker: thought experiment 3, changing the AR
Now imagine increasing the Alumina Ratio to 2.0. You could do this by increasing
the Al2O3 content or by decreasing the Fe2O3. For this thought experiment, just
add some alumina and decrease the SiO2, CaO and Fe2O3 proportionally, don't
think about what raw materials you change to do this it might get complicated.
The LSF and SR will both decrease.

A lower LSF means less alite and a lower SR means less silicates in total and
more flux phases; a higher AR means the proportion of aluminate to ferrite will
increase. Visualise the alite proportion decreasing and the belite proportion
increasing; imagine also the total of aluminate and ferrite increasing. Because
there is more alumina and slightly less iron, there will be more aluminate phase
and less ferrite, so picture an increasing ratio of aluminate to ferrite.
The increased AR will make this clinker harder to burn (maximum liquid at the
lowest temperature is at an approximate AR of 1.38) but this will be offset by the
lower LSF and SR, both of which will make it easier to burn. Which effect would
win out is unclear, so lets suppose burnability will be similar to the standard
clinker. Cement made from this clinker will have a lower alite content and lower
silicates in total, so early and later strengths would probably be lower compared
with the cement made from the reference clinker (again, all other things being
equal). Although there will be less alite, there will be more aluminate and, since
aluminate is the most reactive of the four main clinker minerals, the heat of
hydration is likely to be higher compared with cement made from the reference
clinker.

Cement concepts
Starting with the standard clinker, try thinking of decreasing the AR to 1.4 but
this time by adding iron oxide. LSF and SR will decrease, so the total silicates will
decrease and there will be proportionally less alite and more belite.
Compared with the standard clinker, this clinker will be easier to burn as there
will be maximum liquid at minimum temperature and the SR will be lower, so
there will be more liquid overall. Also, the LSF will be lower, making combination
easier.
There will be less alite and less aluminate, so the heat of hydration will be lower.
Early strengths of cement made from this clinker will be a little lower; later
strengths may also be a bit lower as the total proportion of silicates will be less
and so there will be less hydraulic material present in the cement.
Note that if you lowered the AR by reducing the Al2O3 content, the SR and LSF
would increase.
Clinker: thought experiment 4, changing the free lime
Our archetypal image in Figure 11.1 doesnt show any free lime, although there
was some elsewhere in the nodule, say about 1.5% in the clinker overall.
Suppose we alter the burning conditions, while keeping the kiln feed composition
constant.
Suppose we initially had 56% alite and 18% belite (using the Bogue calculation),
and then we burned the clinker harder. The free lime content will decrease and
we will have more alite and less belite.
If that gave us 0.5% free lime instead of the original 1.5%, we might expect to
have around 60% alite and 15% belite. More alite is good, so we would have
better cement strengths, wouldnt we?
Well, no, probably not.
Yes, in principle, we want to make alite. However, there comes a point where
trying to get every bit of alite that you can becomes counter-productive. As we
said in Chapter 3, overburning produces less-reactive alite.
Suppose we now burn less hard and the free lime rises from 0.5% to maybe
2.5% or 3%. The alite should become more reactive and give better cement
strengths but there will be less of it; at some point, the optimum trade-off
between alite content and alite reactivity will be passed and cement strengths will
start to decrease again. If we allowed the free lime to rise further, we would
eventually start to have problems with expansion due to the hydration of free
lime within hardened concrete or mortar.
Where that optimum free lime content lies is likely to depend on a range of
factors, including the clinker LSF, feed combinability and the related issue of raw
material fineness (especially fineness of silica particles).

Cement concepts
Based on UK experience, a free lime of much less than 1% is likely to indicate an

overburned clinker. At least one manufacturer is happy to have 3% free lime in a
clinker of 100% LSF.
The optimum may also depend on how the cement is to be used. In a composite
cement, the presence of free lime, when hydrated, provides a ready source of
immediately-available CH to produce additional C-S-H or other hydration
products as the slag or fly ash, or other mineral addition, reacts. Of course, the
bulk of the CH will still be provided by alite hydration and the clinker LSF will
have a stronger effect in determining the available CH. The practical effects of
clinker LSF and free lime variability on paste microstructure in composite
cements are unclear and could make an interesting research project.
Softer burning has other benefits as well, saving fuel and prolonging the life of
the kiln lining.
A few general points
In all of the above, the mantra should be:
all other things being equal.
A second mantra should be:
with cement, all other things are never equal,
but, as these are thought experiments, it is OK to pretend.
If the visualised images get a bit hazy and you arent quite sure what should be
happening, go back and look at Chapter 5 on clinker, especially the plots of
combinability curves (Figures 5.1-5.5). All should become clear.
One main reason why all things might not be equal in the real world is that raw
materials are not pure oxides; it is difficult to add just one oxide, as most raw
materials contain more than one, and this would cause unintended secondary
effects. For example, if you added clay or fly ash to raise the Alumina Ratio, you
would also be adding more silica.

Cement concepts
Your freedom to compensate for this would depend what other raw materials you
were using; if you were also using milled silica sand, you could reduce the
proportion of sand to compensate for the additional silica in the fly ash. Even
then, other minor oxides in the fly ash may also have an effect; if the fly ash
contained magnesium, the temperature at which the melt formed on heating
might change. However, practical difficulties like this can be ignored in thought
experiments if appropriate - that is one of their great advantages. If you later
wanted to do one of the experiments for real, you would first identify these
secondary effects and apply the conceptual model to them also to predict the
results.
In other words, think what you want to achieve first, then work out how close
you can get to it in reality. Thought experiments can help with both.
Finally, if you have a cement made on Thursday that seems different from
cement made on Monday, but seems similar in compositional terms, the chapter
on cement variability looks at other reasons why this could happen.
11.4 Hydrated cement
11.4.1 Some useful principles
Everything to do with cement leads eventually to what happens when we add

water, whether in concrete, mortar, grout or some other cementitious material;
having an understanding of what happens as cement hydrates is therefore our
ultimate objective.
With clinker, the formulae for LSF, SR and AR help to visualise how clinker will
change as its composition changes. Unfortunately, as yet we have no such helpful
formulae for hydrating systems, so we adopt as our archetype the process of
hydration of the simplest hydrated Portland cement system, containing clinker
and interground gypsum only.
From this, using thought experiments, we can consider how changes in

water/cement ratio, or additions of fine limestone, slag, fly ash or microsilica, or
anything else we might care to add, are likely to affect the hydration products
that form. Factor in the paste porosity and permeability as well and we can get
an idea of how strong concrete made from that cement might be and how
resistant to deleterious processes.

Cement concepts
Seven useful principles:
1. Alite hydration produces calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) plus calcium

hydroxide (CH); belite hydration produces C-S-H, and maybe a little CH.
2. Aluminate and ferrite hydration release alumina (also lime and a little
iron); the alumina is of prime importance as it is required to form
ettringite and AFm phases.
3. The ratio of available alumina to sulfate in the cement paste controls the
relative proportions of monosulfate (AFm) phase and ettringite, but see
also Principle 4.
4. Principle 3 is modified in the presence of other anions that can substitute

for sulfate in AFm phase. In particular, carbonate from fine limestone can
substitute for sulfate in AFm to form hemicarbonate and then
monocarbonate; the displaced sulfate forming ettringite.
5. Fine filler effect: finely-divided inert material in cement acts as nucleation

sites at which dissolved material can precipitate to form hydration
products. An increase in the number of nucleation sites results in faster
dissolution and re-precipitation, allowing the cement to hydrate more
quickly. This results in more rapid strength growth at early ages. It also
seems to improve later strengths, probably by helping to produce a more
uniform microstructure.
6. The presence of additional available silica, due to the reaction of

pozzolanic or latently hydraulic additions to the cement, will enable
calcium hydroxide to react with the silica to form more C-S-H than would
be produced by Portland cement alone. C-S-H is the principal strength-
giving hydration product, so more C-S-H should mean higher strengths.
7. The ratio of calcium to silicon in C-S-H varies a little with calcium

availability in the hydration products. If more calcium is available, the
proportion of calcium hydroxide will increase. So, roughly speaking, if the
proportion of CH increases, the Ca/Si ratio in the C-S-H will increase.
Conversely, if there is less CH, the Ca/Si ratio in the C-S-H will decrease.
This liberates additional calcium from which more C-S-H can be produced.
Summary: if there is more CH in the paste, the C-S-H will have a higher
Ca/Si ratio and vice versa.

Cement concepts
It also helps to keep in mind the compositions of the reacting materials and of
the principal hydration products:
Alite: C3S (approximately)

Belite: C2S (approximately)
Aluminate: C3A (approximately)
Ferrite: C4AF (very approximately)
Free lime: C
Fly ash, fly ash , (low lime): mainly aluminosilicate glass
Slag: mainly calcium aluminosilicate glass (with more SiO2 and Al2O3 and less
CaO compared with Portland cement)
Calcium silicate hydrate: C-S-H, Si/Ca ratio approximately 0.5-0.6 in Portland

cement
Calcium hydroxide: CH
Ettringite: C3A.3CaSO4.32H2O
Monosulfate: C3A.CaSO4.12H2O
Monocarbonate: C3A.CaCO3.11H2O
Hydroxy-AFm: C4AH13
and
_
Hemicarbonate: C4AC0.5H12
+ Other minor phases
11.4.2 Hydration of different cements
To start with, think of a Portland cement that is composed only of ground clinker
and gypsum added at the cement mill. It has no interground limestone, or
grinding aid that affects cement hydration. It contains no carbonate and no
carbonate is allowed to penetrate from outside. (In Europe, this almost has to be
a thought experiment because most CEM I contains interground limestone,
unless you use white cement.) The image in Figure 11.3 below, reproduced from
Figure 6.3 for convenience, is a good archetype and we'll use it for the thought
experiments that follow.

Cement concepts
Figure 11.3 Archetypal image: polished

section of cement paste, age 2 years, made
using ordinary Portland cement, w/c=0.40.
Key: c - unhydrated cement; C-S-H - calcium
silicate hydrate; CH calcium hydroxide; p
pore; Circle A contains C-S-H, CH and is
assumed also to contain AFm and AFt phases.
CH is just visible, AFm and AFt are not visible
as they are too small.
In most of what follows, we will be thinking of the cement paste fraction of the
concrete (or mortar etc.). Concrete is not just cement paste with stones in it,
because the presence of aggregate introduces other important physical factors
such as the water demand of the aggregate and the interface between the
aggregate and the paste. However, we want to concentrate on the hydration
process and this is most simply done by thinking of pastes - just cement and
water.
You may first want to review the cement hydration process outlined in Chapter
6.3.4.
Thought experiment 5: effect of water/cement ratio
The next thought experiment is to visualise some cement pastes with different
water/cement ratios. It should be really easy, because there are some pictures
showing exactly this in Chapter 6; for convenience, here they are again (Figures
11.4-11.7).

Cement concepts
Figure 11.4 Polished section of cement paste, Figure 11.5 Archetypal image: polished
age 2 years, made using ordinary Portland section of cement paste, age 2 years, made
cement, w/c=0.33. using ordinary Portland cement, w/c=0.40.
Figure 11.6 Polished section of cement paste, Figure 11.7 Polished section of cement paste,
age 2 years, made using ordinary Portland age 2 years, made using ordinary Portland
cement, w/c=0.50. cement, w/c=0.60.
In this particular experiment, dont think about individual hydration products, just
concentrate on three components: the cement hydration products as a whole, the
pores and the remaining cement particles that have not hydrated. Implicitly,
there is also a fourth component, water, filling the pores.
Think firstly of mixing 1 kg cement with 400 g water to give a water/cement ratio
of 0.4, then curing the paste under water for a year or two, until it is mature and
little further hydration will occur.
Picture the hydrating cement: as time passes, the proportion of hydration

products increases, the proportion of unhydrated cement decreases and the
water-filled gaps are gradually replaced by hydration product.
In principle, according to the Powers-Brownyard model, at w/c=0.4, most or all

of all the cement should hydrate because we supplied additional curing water. In
practice, it wont, because of the formation of thick coatings of hydration product
around the unhydrated relicts of larger cement grains that restrict further access
to water.
By 28 days, perhaps about 80%-90% of the alite has hydrated, together with

Cement concepts
about half of the belite, almost all of the aluminate and perhaps half the ferrite.
Some of what remains unhydrated will probably never hydrate, although
hydration will continue at a slow, and ever slower, rate almost indefinitely. After a
year or two, hydration will have mostly ceased.
The archetypal image in Figure 11.3 (and in Figure 11.5) is our archetype; it
shows paste made with a water/cement ratio of 0.4 after 2 years. It is composed
largely of cement hydration products, with a little unhydrated calcium silicate
(top left) and some ferrite (bright, in larger relict cement grains). There are some
pores visible; these are capillary pores and would have been water-filled. In the
polished section, water in capillary pores has been replaced by epoxy resin.
To summarise, a mature Portland cement paste (w/c=0.4) contains hydration

product, some pores, some unhydrated cement, a little water or pore fluid and
maybe some entrapped air.
Next, visualise how a mature paste made with w/c=0.5 might appear. (Don't
cheat and look at the images, just think about it!) There will be more water and
less cement in the paste, so we would expect a higher porosity and fewer
remaining unhydrated cement grains.
Now have a look at Figure 11.6, which shows exactly this; the paste
microstructure is considerably more porous than the paste made with w/c=0.4 in
Figure 11.5. There is still some residual ferrite; some of this may have hydrated,
we can't really tell from the images, but what is there now will probably persist
almost indefinitely.
While thinking again of the paste made with w/c=0.4, now picture a mature
paste made with w/c=0.6. There will be much less cement and much more fluid-
filled pore space; the hydration products will be more porous, with larger
capillary pores; again, this is just what Figure 11.7 shows. There is a clear trend
in the characteristics of the images in terms of porosity and residual unhydrated
cement as we go from w/c=0.4 through w/c=0.5 to wc=0.6.
Finally, consider a paste made with w/c approximately 0.3. The trend continues
in the opposite direction; we would expect a lot of unhydrated cement and little
porosity. According to the Powers-Brownyard model, not all the cement can
hydrate because there is not enough volume to accommodate all of the hydration
product. That is apparent from Figure 11.4; very little porosity is visible but
unhydrated cement grains are numerous. By extension, since there is little
capillary porosity visible, the available water is also very limited. Assuming
hydration product to occupy 2.2 times the volume of the unhydrated cement, it is
clear that most of the remaining cement cannot hydrate; there is not enough
space for the hydration product, or sufficient available water.

Cement concepts
Thought experiment 6: changing the sulfate/alumina ratio
This expands Principle 3 above. Although they represent only a small proportion
of the total paste, ettringite and AFm phases are important; they affect concrete
setting properties and can have an effect on long-term durability.
The balance between available alumina and sulfate in the cement paste controls
the relative proportions of AFm phases and ettringite. In this thought experiment,
think of three cements, all made from the same clinker as used in our cement
archetype above, but containing different amounts of gypsum added when the
cement was milled.
Well call these low sulfate, medium sulfate and high sulfate mixes; the
actual numbers arent important here but think of them as, say, 1.5%, 3.0% and
4.5% SO3 if you like. The cements are used to make pastes, all at the same
water/cement ratio and cured until they are mature, say for a year or more.
Assume there is sufficient sulfate to prevent a flash set at the lower sulfate
contents and that any false-set that might occur is mixed through at the higher
sulfate contents. Dont worry about the exact numbers shown, they are only
intended to be illustrative, and just follow the arguments for each paste.
In a mature paste, what hydration products are present?
Medium sulfate mix: suppose the cement in the archetype mix above contained
a medium level of sulfate. In our mature paste, hydration has virtually
completed and the principal hydration product is C-S-H. Some CH is present, and
there is sufficient available sulfate to combine with all the available alumina to
form monosulfate phase. A small surplus of available sulfate produces a little
ettringite from some of the monosulfate. This is our reference paste to compare
with the following pastes as we change the amount of sulfate.
This paste contains: C-S-H; CH; AFm as monosulfate and a small amount of
ettringite.
Suppose there is less sulfate:
Low sulfate mix: in this paste, the available alumina is about the same as in the
medium sulfate mix; there is less available sulfate, all of which is present in AFm
phase as monosulfate, but there is still an excess of available alumina.
Consequently, there is no ettringite at all, because this requires a higher ratio of
sulfate to alumina. The small deficit of sulfate is accommodated by the formation
of hydroxy-AFm phase, in which sulfate is partly replaced by hydroxide.
This paste contains: C-S-H; CH; AFm as monosulfate and hydroxy-AFm; no

ettringite.

Cement concepts
Suppose there is more sulfate:
High sulfate mix: compared with our medium sulfate reference paste, this
paste with a higher sulfate content has more available sulfate and there is now
sufficient to convert almost all the available alumina to ettringite, with a little
residual monosulfate.
This paste contains: C-S-H; CH; ettringite; a little AFm as monosulfate.
At higher still levels of sulfate, all the available alumina will have formed
ettringite; there will be some residual gypsum as no other sulfate-containing
phases can form.
This experiment has considered what might be present in mature pastes because
it is easier to do this when the reactions have largely stopped. At early ages, the
reactions are more complicated and there will be much local variability. Cement
particle size and crystal microstructure, to name just two factors, affect the rate
at which reactants become available. Also, not all the sulfate in the cement is
ultimately present in ettringite or monosulfate; some is taken up by the C-S-H,
as is some alumina. The use of the term available is used to allow for these
uncertainties.
Thought experiment 7: add interground limestone
In recent years, an increasing proportion of Portland cement worldwide has

contained a small amount of interground limestone, typically up to 5%. The next
change to our archetype of a basic Portland cement should therefore be to add
some interground limestone. With closed-circuit cement milling, the particle size
range is less than with an open-circuit mill. There are fewer coarse particles and
a much smaller proportion of very fine particles; limestone is softer than clinker,
so intergrinding it with clinker in a closed-circuit mill will produce very fine
limestone particles (<1 m) and these compensate for the lack of very fine
cement particles. These fine limestone particles will have both physical and
chemical effects.
Imagine mixing cement containing fine limestone with water. At the instant of
mixing, before the cement and water react, think of the fine limestone dispersed
between the coarser cement grains. The fine limestone occupies space that would
otherwise be occupied by water. The mix will be more cohesive, reducing
bleeding. The cement may also be ground coarser, giving better control over
early hydration, strength growth and heat evolution and will also save energy.
The first effects of limestone intergrinding are therefore physical and are in some
ways beneficial. The water demand might increase, depending on the particle size
of cement and limestone; this would reduce strength and so not be beneficial.
Imagine the fine particles of limestone being engulfed by C-S-H and ettringite
precipitating around them. This is Principle 5, the fine filler effect. The fine
limestone will act as nucleation sites for the formation of hydration products; this
will tend to reduce setting times and increase early strengths by increasing the

Cement concepts
rate at which the cement hydrates. As noted in Principle 5 above, it may also aid
later strengths.
How will the chemistry of the cement paste change?
Although limestone is widely used as aggregate, calcium carbonate is not inert in

cement pore fluid. The smaller the limestone particles are, the quicker they are
likely to react. Principle 4 says that this will affect the formation of ettringite and
monosulfate. Some of the interground limestone will dissolve, with the calcium
contributing to the formation of C-S-H and other hydration products and the
carbonate forming AFm phases.
Where monosulfate has formed, carbonate from the limestone displaces the
sulfate. The sulfate forms ettringite from existing monosulfate and the carbonate
forms AFm phase as hemicarbonate. Eventually, all the monosulfate disappears,
replaced by hemicarbonate and ettringite.
The hemicarbonate may then react with more carbonate, if available, to produce
monocarbonate. (Monocarbonate contains twice as much carbonate compared
with hemicarbonate, so hemicarbonate will tend to form if carbonate is scarce in
relation to the total amount of AFm phase, with monocarbonate forming as more
carbonate becomes available).
Under 0.5% carbonate by mass of cement is typically enough to prevent

monosulfate formation in cement paste; this is roughly 1% limestone. If 5%
limestone is present in the cement, there is a large excess of available carbonate
and the principal stable AFm phase where interground limestone is present is
therefore most likely to be monocarbonate.
In summary, cement containing interground limestone is likely to contain

ettringite, with monocarbonate tending to be the principal AFm phase instead of
monosulfate. This should have no adverse effect on the performance of the
cement; indeed it should be beneficial to strengths due to the fine filler effect and
to durability by a more effective blocking of capillary pores by the platelets of
monocarbonate AFm phase together with ettringite.
Intergrinding up to 5% fine limestone with the clinker is a relatively recent

development (how recent depends where you are). However, limestone has been
used as an aggregate since concrete was first used. If limestone is crushed for
use as aggregate, it will contain limestone dust, so the presence of fine limestone
in concrete is actually not all that new.
An accountants view of adding 5% limestone to cement might be that, since

limestone is cheaper than cement, the purchaser is getting a bad deal. In
practice, the performance of the cement should not be adversely affected and
may be enhanced. (EN 197-1 requires that a cement containing 5% mac - which
may be fine limestone - should meet the same performance criteria as if the mac
were not present.) There should also be a slight saving in the energy required to
produce the cement.
Thought experiment 8: add microsilica (silica fume)

Cement concepts
Microsilica is a by-product of the silicon industry consisting of small, rounded,

glass particles approximately 0.1 m across. It is typically composed of 85% or
more silica, with some potassium, aluminium, iron, magnesium, calcium and
other impurities. It is highly pozzolanic with a large surface area.
Think of our archetypal Portland cement paste use the image in Figure 6.3,
reproduced yet again for convenience in Figure 11.8 below. Then imagine adding
to it a small amount of microsilica, say 3% by weight of cement, and mixing to a
paste with w/c=0.5. How will the microsilica affect the properties of the paste?
Figure 11.8 Polished section of cement paste,

age 2 years, made using ordinary Portland
cement, w/c=0.40. Key: c - unhydrated
cement; C-S-H - calcium silicate hydrate; CH
calcium hydroxide; p pore; Circle A contains
C-S-H, CH and is assumed also to contain AFm
and AFt phases. CH is just visible, AFm and AFt
are not visible as they are too small.
We have added very fine and reactive material composed largely of silica;
assuming the microsilica to be properly dispersed, the fineness should have the
physical effect of improving the cohesiveness of the paste. In concrete, this
should reduce bleeding.
Principles 5 and 6 will apply; think of the numerous small particles acting as
nucleation sites for the formation of hydration products. This should improve
early concrete strengths and probably also reduce setting times. As the
microsilica itself then starts to react, it will contribute silica to the cement
hydration products, forming additional C-S-H from the CH in the paste. Look
particularly at the CH in the paste without microsilica in Figure 11.8, and then
visualise the extent of CH in the paste diminishing as the C-S-H increases with
microsilica addition.
The Si/Ca ratio of the C-S-H will increase from approximately 0.5 to 0.6 or more.

Cement concepts
With increasing levels of cement replacement by microsilica, the quantity of CH

will decrease further and the Si/Ca ratio of the C-S-H will increase, releasing
more lime for C-S-H formation.
In summary, cement containing microsilica should have a dense paste structure

with an increased proportion of C-S-H and a decreased proportion of CH.
Strength should be enhanced and permeability decreased, leading to better
durability.
Assuming the microsilica to contain a negligible amount of alumina, the addition

of microsilica will not affect the ratio of sulfate to alumina and so the relative
proportions of monosulfate and ettringite shouldnt be altered.
Thought experiment 9: add granulated blastfurnace slag (gbs)
Blastfurnace slag is a by-product of iron smelting. When the molten slag is cooled
rapidly using water from about 1500 C to 800 C, it forms a granular, latent
hydraulic, material composed of about 95%, or more, glass. The three principal
oxides are those of calcium, silicon and aluminium. Compared with Portland
cement, slag used in concrete contains less CaO and more SiO2 and Al2O3. Slag is
not as reactive as Portland cement and ideally is ground finer.
The proportions of Portland cement and slag in a composite cement vary widely,
typically from 30% slag to 70% or more. Suppose we have a mix containing 50%
of our archetypal Portland cement and 50% ggbs at w/c=0.5.
When first mixed with water, the Portland cement fraction of the mix reacts more
quickly than the slag and so has a higher effective w/c ratio than if the mix were
100% Portland cement. The paste microstructure for the first few days or weeks
is therefore more porous compared with a 100% Portland cement mix. As the
slag hydrates, the porosity is reduced and eventually the paste should become
less porous compared with a 100% Portland cement mix.
The finest of the slag particles probably provide nucleation sites on which
hydration products form, especially if the slag has been ground finer than the
clinker1. Principle 4 will therefore apply to some extent. (If the Portland cement
also contained interground limestone, the limestone may act to accelerate both
cement and slag hydration; however, our archetypal Portland cement contains no
limestone so we wont consider this further).
The main effect of the slag is on the proportions of the hydration products and
their composition, and on the paste microstructure.
In our mix of Portland cement and slag, at an early age (eg: one day) the
Portland cement fraction has hydrated more than the slag component, and the
hydration products are broadly those of the Portland cement archetype.
Gradually, the slag reacts.
1
Slag is harder to grind than clinker, so intergrinding slag and clinker produces cement in which the
slag is coarser than the clinker. Preferably, the slag should be finer than the clinker, so ideally the two
are milled separately and then blended.

Cement concepts
Think of the composition of the slag; compared with Portland cement, the slag
has a higher ratio of Si/Ca and also of Al/Ca (compare the typical analyses in
Tables 3.2 and 7.1). The main effect on the hydrating system will be to increase
the ratio of total available Si/Ca compared with that from the Portland cement
alone and Principle 6 will apply. The proportion of CH in the paste will decrease,
the proportion of C-S-H will increase and the Si/Ca ratio of the C-S-H will
increase.
Principle 3 will also apply. The slag contributes more alumina than sulfate, so the
ratio of alumina to sulfate in the paste will increase. Any ettringite that had
formed earlier from Portland cement hydration will be lost and virtually all of the
available sulfate will be present in the form of monosulfate. Hydroxy-AFm will
form if insufficient sulfate is present to combine with the available alumina to
produce monosulfate.
Comparing the Portland cement paste in Figure 11.8 with the image in Figure
11.9 containing Portland cement and slag, there are two main differences visible
in the hydration products: in the paste containing slag, there is more C-S-H in
relation to CH, in fact, there is very little CH visible in Figure 11.9; most has been
converted to C-S-H.
The second difference is that, in Figure 11.8, there isn't any AFm phase visible.
Some will be present, but the crystals are too small and dispersed to be
apparent. In contrast, in Figure 11.9, platy crystals of AFm are clearly visible and
widespread. This is because alumina from slag hydration has produced additional
AFm. In the absence of any available carbonate, the AFm phases will probably be
a mixture of monosulfate and hydroxy-AFm.
Figure 11.9 Polished section of concrete

containing 50% Portland cement and 50%
ggbs, age approximately one year. Key: c-relict
Portland cement particle; s-residual
unhydrated slag; arrowed features-platy
crystals of AFm (mainly monosulfate) phase.
Note how the AFm crystals occupy pore space,
reducing porosity and permeability.

Cement concepts
In addition to acting as a physical barrier, monosulfate crystals can convert to

another AFm phase, Friedels salt, in the presence of ingressing chloride; to some
extent this may act to limit potential corrosion of steel reinforcement. The
presence of slag in composite cements can therefore be highly beneficial by
increasing both strength and durability. In addition, it makes use of a by-product
material and reduces the amount of Portland cement used, with savings in
energy, raw materials and carbon dioxide emissions. (The down side is that, as
mentioned previously, slag needs a more extended curing period than Portland
cement. Depletion of CH in the paste may result in a higher susceptibility to
carbonation and risk of reinforcement corrosion, the latter being partly offset by
a lower paste permeability).
Most sulfur in slag is present as sulfide, not as sulfate, although a small amount
of sulfate may be present. Sulfide released by slag hydration probably becomes
incorporated into AFm phase. Other minor hydrated phases will be present in
composite cements containing slag, in particular, a phase similar to hydrotalcite.
In summary, compared with a paste made using Portland cement alone, a paste
made from a composite cement containing slag would be expected to contain
more C-S-H, less CH, more monosulfate and less ettringite probably no
ettringite at all if there is sufficient slag. The increased proportion of C-S-H may
improve strength (depending on slag content, fineness and reactivity) and reduce
the paste permeability. The infilling of pore space by the platy monosulfate
crystals may add to strength and will certainly contribute to lowering permeability
(Figure 11.9).
If the Portland cement contained interground limestone; the limestone would

supply carbonate for the formation of AFm phases. Depending on the relative
proportions of available sulfate, alumina and carbonate, a mature paste or
concrete would contain C-S-H, a little CH; much AFm due to alumina from slag
hydration, and possibly ettringite. The AFm would be present as a mixture of
monosulfate and hemicarbonate, or hemicarbonate and monocarbonate, or all
monocarbonate.
Thought experiment 10: add low-lime fly ash
Fly ash is a pozzolanic by-product of electricity generation using coal. It is the

non-combustible fraction of the coal that melted and then solidified in flight,
forming near-perfect spheres. Low-lime fly ash is derived from minerals such as
quartz and feldspar and so the principal oxides are silica and alumina, with some
potash and soda. Residues of iron and sulfur from the coal will be present, and
some carbon. Composite cements containing Portland cement and fly ash
typically contain up to 30% fly ash, sometimes more.
Fly ash in a composite cement has two physical effects:
Think of the spherical shape of fly ash particles aiding concrete workability by
acting as small ball bearings in the mix. This means that lower water/cement
ratios may be used in mixes containing fly ash compared with mixes containing
only Portland cement, or Portland cement and other angular particles such as
slag.

Cement concepts
The finest fly ash particles are less than a micron across - imagine them also
contributing to some extent to providing nucleation sites for the formation of
hydration products (Principal 5).
If we consider the low-lime fly ash as principally an aluminosilicate glass, the

effects on the chemistry of the paste will be somewhat similar to those of slag.
Principles 3 and 6 will apply.
Our archetypal cement paste contains no limestone, so we don't need to consider

AFm phases containing carbonate. fly ash reaction releases silica, resulting in an
increased proportion of C-S-H and a decreased proportion of CH.
Fly ash reaction also releases alumina, altering the balance between available
sulfate and alumina. This results in an increase in the proportion of monosulfate
and, probably, the disappearance of any ettringite that had formed initially before
the fly ash reacted significantly. As with the slag mix above, hydroxy-AFm will
form if insufficient sulfate is present to combine with all the available alumina to
produce monosulfate.
Fly ash is less reactive than either Portland cement or slag and so early strengths
will be lower. However, later strengths will be enhanced by the formation of
additional C-S-H, reducing porosity and permeability. Strengths will also be
enhanced by the reduction in water requirement due to the lubricating action of
the fly ash spheres. Comparing the strengths of fly ash and Portland cement
mixes, the relative strengths will depend on curing temperature.
If the mixes are cured at ambient temperature (nominally 20 C), and assuming
the continued availability of water for curing, after several months the strength of
the fly ash mix may approach that of the Portland cement mix, although it may
not quite catch up.
At elevated curing temperatures, as may occur in large pours of concrete, more

of the fly ash will react and so the fly ash mix is likely to show better strengths
than the Portland cement mix due to enhanced C-S-H formation.
(NB: in two otherwise similar large pours of a Portland cement mix and a
Portland cement/fly ash composite mix, the Portland cement mix will reach a
higher temperature due to higher heat of hydration. This is likely to have an
adverse effect on strength and is another reason why the fly ash mix will be
stronger).
After a month or so, mixes containing fly ash may well show better strengths
than otherwise similar mixes containing Portland cement only. AFm formation in
pores will further reduce permeability and will tend to bind ingressing chloride.
As with the slag mix in Thought Experiment 9, if the Portland cement contained
interground limestone, carbonate would be available for AFm formation.

Cement concepts
11.5 Towards quantifying cement hydration products

All of the above thought experiments treated the hydration products qualitatively.
We can say that, for example, the proportion of ettringite will increase or
decrease, but we can't say how much of it there actually is.
With cement or cement clinker, we can apply the Bogue calculation, or modified
versions of it, to get a good idea of the proportions of the phases present. With
hydrated systems it is more difficult, mainly because we don't know how much of
the mix constituents have actually reacted. For example, looking at Figure 11.9,
there was originally 50% slag and 50% Portland cement. Unless we know how
much slag and cement have actually reacted, we don't know what is available to
form the hydration products.
Even worse, different clinker minerals have different reactivities, so we need to

know individually how much alite, belite etc. has reacted.
Taylor (1) gives an approach to quantifying hydrated phases; Nielsen et al (2)

provide an alternative.
Why would we want to quantify cement hydration products?
Simple. We could build structures that were better, stronger and more durable.
Probably cheaper, too. We could maximise strengths and produce just enough
pore filling phases, particularly AFm, to minimise permeability. (If we have more
AFm than we need, lime in AFm might be better used producing C-S-H and
additional strength; this we could do by supplying more reactive silica and less
alumina.)
Such calculations may be useful in considering the durability of structures with a

long service life, or in the encapsulation of radioactive waste where time needs to
be measured on a geological timescale, not on the more usual timescale of
decades for concrete structures.
These considerations are highlighted in three papers by Matschei et al.,

(References 1 and 2 at the end of Chapter 6, and Reference 3 below); this last
paper provides a database providing improved characterisation of hydration
products.
In all three papers, the authors anticipate the prospect of quantifying paste
mineralogy from the bulk composition and in these publications they have made
a major contribution towards achieving that objective. These papers are pretty
technical but highly recommended if you wish to read more about cement
hydration products.

Cement concepts
1. Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, Thomas Telford, 2nd ed. 1997, p209.

2. Phase equilibria of hydrated Portland cement. Erik P Nielsen, Duncan
Herfort and Mette R Geiker, Cement and Concrete Research 35 (2005)
109-115.
3. Thermodynamic properties of Portland cement pastes in the system CaO-
Al2O3-SiO2-CaSO4-CaCO3-H2O. T Matschei, B Lothenbach and F P Glasser,
Cement and Concrete Research 37 (2007) 1379-1410.

12 Making cement greener
Portland cement production leaves large holes in the ground where raw materials
were extracted, it uses fossil fuels and it emits a lot of carbon dioxide. It may
also produce a lot of dust unless constant efforts are made to minimise it.
Traditionally, the cement manufacturers green credentials have been regarded by
some as a bit dubious, to put it mildly, but in recent years cement producers
have cleaned up their act a lot.
Holes in the ground, especially near cities, have become valuable for use as
landfill sites to dispose of rubbish or for redevelopment. Old quarries, for years
fenced off with Danger, Keep Out signs, have been redeveloped as massive
shopping centres, now with much smarter signs encouraging people to enter.
Many old quarries have been landscaped or returned to nature and in many
parts of the world, dust emissions from cement works are a small fraction of
what they were thirty or forty years ago.
Significant though these achievements are, the problems they addressed are
more straightforward than those of fossil fuel use and CO2 production. Even in
these areas, though, many cement producers have made major progress.
12.1 Cutting back on burning fossil fuels

Until very recently, the majority of Portland cement was produced using fossil
fuels as the primary, or only, fuel. Coal was the most common fuel but oil and
gas were also used, and still are. Fossil fuel use in many cement plants has now
been reduced principally by one or more of the following:
Improvements in plant efficiency, mainly by phasing out old wet process kilns
in favour of dry process kilns.
Using alternative fuels, such as waste solvents, waste paper, old car tyres and
bonemeal.
Producing mineralised clinker.

Making cement greener
Together, these changes mean that less fuel per tonne of cement is used overall,
and a smaller proportion of the fuel that is used is fossil fuel.
The use of alternative fuels to partly replace fossil fuels means that a scarce
resource is conserved and also that nuisance wastes are disposed of productively.
Some hazardous wastes can be disposed of more effectively by burning in a
cement kiln than by other means, due to the high burning temperature and
longer residence time compared with an incinerator.
At least one UK cement works now produces clinker using 70% alternative fuels
and only 30% coal. This significant achievement is all the more impressive
considering that some of the non-combustible residues in these fuels affect
clinker composition. Car tyres contain steel, so the iron content of the clinker will
change unless the raw feed composition is adjusted; they also contain zinc, a
retarder of cement hydration. Bonemeal contains calcium phosphate which is
likely to inhibit alite formation unless well-dispersed throughout the clinker;
bonemeal is therefore only used in limited quantities in order control the clinker
phosphate content.
Mineralised clinker is produced by the addition of small amounts of mineraliser,

typically calcium fluoride, to the raw feed; the alite produced contains aluminium
and fluorine substituting for a small proportion of the silicon. Not only can this
alite give improved early strengths compared with normal alite, it forms at a
lower temperature. Instead of burning temperatures of about 1450 C, clinker can
be produced between about 1050 C 1200 C. Clearly, this will require
significantly less energy. Not all raw materials are suitable for mineralising.
12.2 Reducing CO2

About 5% of the carbon dioxide produced by mans activities is due to cement
production and, worldwide, roughly 900 kg CO2 is produced per tonne of cement
(1), a figure dating from 2003 that will be somewhat less now; this is an industry
average that includes cement plants with less efficient wet-process kilns and
more efficient dry process kilns. In the UK, CO2 emissions directly from cement
plants per tonne manufactured were 777 kg per tonne (2) in 2008. Evidently, this
is significantly less, although without knowing just how the data were collected, it
is not possible to be sure that the two figures were calculated on a like-for-like
basis.
As a back-of-envelope calculation, assuming cement to contain 65% CaO and

assuming that all the CaO comes from pure limestone, to make 1000 kg cement
requires 650 kg CaO which in turn would be produced by 1161 kg of pure
limestone. Therefore, 1161-650=511 kg CO2 is produced from the calcination of
the limestone, or 57% of the total, assuming 900 kg CO2 emitted per tonne
cement.
The bulk of the other 43% of the total CO2 will be due to burning fuel in the kiln,
with the remainder due to CO2 from electricity generation used in grinding the
raw materials, milling the clinker and transporting raw materials and the finished
product.

The bulk of the CO2 emitted by the burning of alternative fuels (paper, tyres,
bonemeal) is recycled CO2 that was only recently taken from the atmosphere;
unlike the burning of fossil fuels, continued burning of these fuels should not
produce a cumulative increase in atmospheric CO2.
Alternative fuels can therefore make a significant reduction in the net CO2
emissions related to cement production. However, the bulk of the CO2 emitted is
still due to limestone calcination. Since this is an integral part of the process of
Portland cement production, it seems there are only three ways in which this can
be significantly reduced:
Use less Portland cement
Capture the emitted CO2
Develop alternative cements not based on the calcination of carbonate raw

materials
Some experimental alternative cements are indeed being developed. It will be

interesting to see how this progresses, but at present they seem unlikely to offer
a viable and widely-available alternative in the short or medium term to cements
based on Portland cement.
Capturing CO2 from cement plants is also being examined but will be expensive
and seems unlikely to happen to any great extent in the short term.
Using less Portland cement is a very viable option and is already being done. For
example, for a 50/50 mix of Portland cement and slag compared with 100%
Portland cement, CO2 emissions are reduced considerably. Using a figure of 52 kg
CO2 per tonne slag (Table 7.1), instead of 900 kg CO2 emitted per tonne of
Portland cement, we have 450+26=476 kg CO2 per tonne cement.
If we factor in that perhaps only one-third of the fuel used to make the Portland
cement need be fossil fuel, the total CO2 produced from limestone calcination and
the burning of fossil fuel could be as low as about 350 kg tonne-1 cement. This is
only about 40% of the initial 900 kg tonne-1 cement - quite a saving.
Of course, this assumes that there is sufficient slag (or fly ash) available, without
the need for transporting it over long distances, and that, from a global
perspective CO2 reductions are accounted for consistently. The steel and
electricity industries may want to include these savings in calculations for their
own activities and the savings cant be counted twice.
Nevertheless, it is clear that by using alternative fuels and composite cements,

the cement industry can make major savings in its use of raw materials and fossil
fuels, make effective use of rubbish that would otherwise have gone to landfill as
well as reduce its CO2 emissions. In coming years, climate science will doubtless
evolve, and global temperatures will continue to vary; meanwhile, these savings
enable us all to be better custodians of our planet.

1. "The Cement Industry and Global Climate Change: Current and Potential
Future Cement Industry CO2 Emissions". M Natesan; S Smith, K Humphreys,
(2003). Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies - 6th International Conference.
Oxford: Pergamon. pp. 9951000. ISBN 9780080442761.
2. http://www.cementindustry.co.uk/PDF/MPAC_Performance_2008.pdf

Appendix 1 - further reading
Having now got to grips with some of the basics, I very much hope that you will
continue to explore cement science with some of the excellent textbooks
available.
If you have access to a technical library, the following books will doubtless be
available. However, if your work involves cement in any significant aspect, you
should probably get your own copy of some of the more important books anyway.
If you are an engineer rather than a chemist, the first of the books on the short
list below would be an excellent purchase, especially if you can wait for the new
edition to come out. However, if you are involved in cement or concrete
production from a technical or scientific perspective, or if you are an academic
with an interest in either cement or concrete, you really need the first three
books: Bye, Taylor and Lea. These three are the essentials of any cement
reference library.
Portland Cement: Composition, Production and Properties, G C Bye,

pub. Thomas Telford Ltd., 2nd edition, 1999. ISBN-13: 978-0727727664.
This is a superb little book, the small size of which belies the huge quantity of
concentrated information that it contains. A third edition is in preparation.
Cement Chemistry, H F W Taylor, pub. Thomas Telford, 2nd edition

1997. Language: English. ISBN: 07277 2592 0
This book is the distillation of an eminent scientists lifetimes work in cement

chemistry. It contains about 460 pages on cement composition and production,
high temperature chemistry, cement hydration and the hydration products,
composite cements, calcium aluminate and other cements and concrete
chemistry. There are also 44 pages of references. The assumed level of
knowledge on the part of the reader is quite high in some parts of the book.
There are still some places in it that I dont go to on a dark night on my own, but
like great works of literature, over the years more is revealed as you re-read it.
Some proficiency in chemistry as well as in crystallography and various
techniques of instrumental analysis, would undoubtedly be of benefit in getting
the best from the book. However, at least two-thirds of the text is quite
accessible with only a basic level of chemistry and anyone who has absorbed the
content of Understanding Cement should have no hesitation in getting Taylors
book. A well-used copy should certainly be on the bookshelf of every works
chemist, concrete plant technical manager, engineer, academic and anyone else
with a detailed interest in cement science. I admit to having two, one at work
and one at home; some people may consider this excessive, but I cant think
why.
Appendix 1 - further reading
Leas Chemistry of Cement and Concrete, 4th edition, edited by Peter

Hewlett, pub. Elsevier, 1998. Language: English. ISBN-13: 978-0-7506-
6256-7
First published in 1935, this updated splendid work of reference contains 16

detailed chapters, each written by experts in that niche of cement or concrete.
This is a weighty book, both physically and in content, and runs to over 1000
pages. Generally, the assumed level of the readers knowledge is perhaps slightly
less than that assumed by Taylor. This is another must have for anyone with a
serious interest in cement and concrete chemistry.
Properties of Concrete, A M Neville, pub. Prentice Hall, 4th edition

1995. Language English: ISBN-13: 978-0582230705
This book is focussed more closely on concrete from an engineering viewpoint but
it contains some accessible cement and concrete chemistry. It is widely regarded
as a standard text on concrete.
Concrete Petrography, D A St John, A W Poole and I Sims, pub Arnold,

1998, Language English: ISBN-13: 978-0340692660
The standard text for anyone interested in concrete petrography, this book
contains a mass of information on petrographic techniques and also some very
accessible cement and concrete chemistry.
Chemical Fundamentals of Geology, Robin Gill, pub. Chapman and Hall,

2nd edition 1996. Language: English. ISBN-13: 978-0412549304
This is an excellent introduction to geochemistry, and by extension, to some of

the basic tools of cement chemistry. The book isnt about cement - cement isn't
even mentioned - but I have found it to be invaluable.

And finally!
If everything goes wrong and your concrete breaks

up beyond all hope of repair, you can still put it to
good use and grow strawberries

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Understanding Cement

An introduction to cement production,

WHD Microanalysis Consultants Ltd

Copyright 2009 N B Winter. All rights reserved.

You DO NOT have the right to reprint or resell this e-book.

Please contact us for details of CORPORATE or EDUCATIONAL multiple

THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES

1 A brief history of cement 1

3 Portland cement composition and microstructure 9

3.1 Portland cement minerals 10

4 Portland cement manufacturing - the main components

4.1 The quarry 32

6 Hydration of cement chemical and physical properties 63

8 Cement variability 102

9 Deleterious processes in concrete 108

9.1 Reactions between cement paste and aggregate 108

10 Standards for Portland Cement 137

10.1 ASTM C 150-07 138

11 Cement concepts 147

11.1 Altering the properties of cement 147

12.1 Cutting back on burning fossil fuels 176

Appendix 1 - further reading 180

However, increasingly, Portland cement is used in conjunction with other

We will look first at Portland cement production, then at Portland cement

The penultimate chapter draws everything together in the form of thought

How to use this book

Comments, suggestions, bouquets, brickbats all feedback will be gratefully

E-book technical problems

If you have any queries about the consultancy services offered by

Cover picture courtesy Castle Cement

On that happy note, read on!

This process of heating limestone so that it decomposes to lime (calcium oxide)

There is also a kind of powder from which natural causes produces

Vitruvious Ten books of architecture is a real historical gem bringing together

Figure 1.1 Ardnamurchan lighthouse, Scotland, built

While Aspdin is usually regarded as the inventor of Portland cement, Aspdins

Development of rotary kilns (Ransome, 1885; Hurry and Seaman, 1895)

Addition of gypsum to control setting

Use of ball mills to grind clinker and raw materials

The two other principal technical developments, gypsum addition to control

1. Vitruvius, The Ten Books of Architecture, Dover Publications, 1960.

Lea, Chapter 1, The History of Calcareous Cements, R G Blezard.

2.1 Some definitions

Cements composed of mixtures of Portland cement with these other materials

Portland cement Material made by heating a mixture of limestone and

2.2 Some non-Portland cements

Calcium aluminate cements

Calcium aluminate cements (CACs)

Lime mortar and concrete

Cracks that develop in lime mortar tend to heal themselves, unlike

Lime is produced at a lower temperature than Portland cement, so other

Lime mortar and concrete gain strength largely by carbonation, the

Lime mortars and plasters allow a building to breathe more than if

These are special cements designed to exert an expansive force on their

Portland Cement is made by heating suitable raw materials, typically ground

A more complete description of the cement production process follows.

3.1 Portland cement minerals

In turn, Portland cement clinker is produced from a mixture of finely-ground

Clinker is composed of rounded, dark grey or grey-green nodules, ranging in size

Figure 3.5 Typical Portland cement clinker nodules:

Portland cement clinker contains four principal minerals, or phases:

A phase in cement chemistry or petrology may be defined as:

A part or parts of a system occupying a specific volume and having uniform