Preparation of iron rich cements using red mud

Possibility of producing calcium sulfoaluminoferrite (SAF) (C-4(A,F)(3) (S) over bar)-calcium aluminoferrite (C(4)AF) based cements using lime + red mud + bauxite + gypsum has been investigated. The effects of composition, firing time and firing temperature on the properties of cements produced has been studied. The characteristics of the cements produced have been found to be strongly dependent on the raw mix composition and firing temperature but not so much on firing time. Some of these cements possess strengths comparable to and at times even more than ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Since the red mud used contains significant amount of titania, effect of titania on pure sulfoaluminate phase has also been studied. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.