X-ray Diffraction Analysis of Cement (2)

Introduction

Cement is manufactured through the processes of crushing and mixing raw materials, calcination, and finishing. The crushing and mixing process uses raw materials such as limestone, clay, silica stone, and iron oxide and these materials contain alite (C3S), belite (C2S), aluminate (C3A), and ferrite (C4AF). Since the ratios of these compounds differ according to manufacturer and product type and significantly affect product performance, cement is analyzed using X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. However, even with X-ray diffraction, which is capable of qualitatively analyzing powder samples, quantitative analysis of samples consisting of multiple components is known to be difficult due to considerable overlapping of diffraction lines. This article introduces an analysis example of a cement powder sample which is known the component composition and the ratio, using Siroquant software (Sietronics Pty. Ltd.) applying Rietvelt analysis method which is the one of the profile fitting method. Siroquant enables identification of composition components and quantitative analysis in addition to the element analysis using X-ray fluorescence in quality control of cement.

September 25, 2017 GMT