The influence of earth alkalis on the mineralogy in a mineralized Portland cement clinker

Abstract

Laboratory-burned sulfur-rich Portland cement clinker has been prepared with varying amounts of MgO, SrO, and BaO. The distribution of these alkaline earth elements was analyzed with EPMA. The structural changes of the belite phase have been determined by full-pattern Rietveld X-ray diffraction. Although the belite phase did only amount to 15–25% of the total clinker mass, it was possible to follow the β to α′ transition particularly as a function of increasing SrO content. The α phase was not detected. The observed lattice parameters are close to values found in pure belite phase studies.