Effect of basalt on the burnability of raw meal of Portland cement clinker

This study presents the effect of basalt as a flux and mineralizer on the formation of Portland cement clinker fired at different temperatures. Five mixtures are prepared by addition of different amounts of basalt such as 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mass % to the kiln feed prepared for the ordinary Portland cement clinker manufacture. Each mixture from the above mixes is molded in one inch cylindrical bar under 300 kg/cm(2) and fired in muffle furnace at different firing temperatures such as 1200 degrees C, 1300 degrees C and 1350 degrees C for 2 h as soaking time. The fired clinker is quenched in the air to prevent the dissociation of the formed clinker. The degree of clinkerization is studied by the determination of insoluble residue, free lime contents and the identification of mineralogical phases such as C(3)S, beta-C(2)S, C(3)A and C(4)AF by XRD analysis. The potential phase composition of clinker is also calculated by the modified Bogue formulae. The hydration characteristics are investigated by the determination of free lime, combined water contents, total porosity, bulk density and compressive strength for all clinkers fired at different temperatures. In addition, IR spectra of hydrated cement pastes of some selected samples are studied.