A study on the burnability and the phase formation of PC clinker containing Cu oxide

Subject of this paper is to investigate the effect of CuO on the burnability of the cement raw mix and on the phase formation of the clinker. The effect was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. Besides, the rate of fCaO consumption during the sintering of raw meals was measured. As it is concluded the presence of the CuO in cement raw mix promotes the combination of the free lime, especially in the temperature range between 1000 and 1300 degrees C. It also favors the formation of alite and belite at lower temperatures. Furthermore, CuO lowers the temperature of the sintering reactions. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd