Re: Clinker Hanrdess

Hello Sheikh,

Litre weight is a measure of bulk density, not necessarily clinker hardness . In any case, with respect to clinker grindability,
"brittleness", rather than "hardness" is the governing factor.

The brittleness coefficients of the main three clinker minerals have been measured by researchers and found to be as follows;- C2S
=2.0 < C3A= 2.9 < C3S = 4.7 (the numbers represent average length of cracks radiating from micro-indentations, so a high number
means the material is more brittle, or easier to grind).

These figures show that C2S is over twice as difficult to grind as C3S, and when C2S occurs in numerous dense clusters, due to
oversized silica, the grindability is made significantly worse. Grindability is also related to the packing density of the mineral crystals
within the melt matrix upon cooling. Since C2S crystals are round, they can pack closer together than the elongated crystals of C3S
and C3A, all of which makes a clinker high in C2S harder to grind than one which is high in C3S and/or C3A.

Clinker grindability basically depends on the following;-

1. Clinker composition and mineralogy, particularly the amount of C2S present, the degree of C2S clustering and the crystal sizes and
degree of micro-fracturing of the clinker minerals.
2. The thermal history of the clinker eg. rate of sintering, sintering temperature, time at sintering temperature and cooling rate.

So, while litre weight may indirectly give you some information about the sintering temperature and sintering time, it cannot give you
any information about the clinker's mineralogy or cooling rate.
The definitive method of estimating clinker grindability is the Bond Work Index which uses a laboratory ball mill to measure the time
taken to grind clinker to a certain fineness.

For more information on clinker grindability see;-

"Clinker Microstructure and Grindability", A literature review by Linda M. Hills, PCA (Portland Cement Association), 2007.

http://www.cement.org/bookstore/download.asp?mediatypeid=1&id=15745&itemid=SN2967

re CEMENT MILL PERFORMANCE WITH CLINKER QUALITY

VARIATION
Hello Dharmesh,

I agree with 123red. The number, distribution and size of belite (C2S) clusters have a significant effect on clinker grindability. This is
because C2S is the least brittle clinker mineral and therefore the most diffiicult to grind. Microscopic examination of the two
clinkers should be able to measure the C2S cluster distribution and determine if an abnormal condition exists. A crystal count would
also quantify the actual amounts of C3S and C3S present in the two clinkers. It may well be that clinker #1 actually has more C2S
than clinker #2, even though the Bogue calculation says the opposite. The size of individual crystals has an impact on grindability as
well. Clinker nodules made up of larger, well formed crystals are harder to grind than those composed of smaller crystal sizes.

There are also other factors that can effect grindability. One of these is clinker density, or degree of porosity. Hard burned clinkers
(lower free lime) are more dense than clinkers with higher free lime contents. ie they have a lower porosity. This generally makes
harder burned clinker harder to grind. This may be one reason why the clinker with a lower free lime is harder to grind in your case.
(even though the litre weight is marginally lower)

Another factor is degree of cooling. If clinker is not cooled fast enough, C3A crystallises out of the liquid phase in long, large
crystals, which strengthen the clinker nodules internally and make them difficult to grind. This can also be easily seen under the
microscope.

I would therefore suggest that you arrange for a comprehensive mineralogical analysis of both clinkers.