Effects of Calcination Conditions on the Formation and Hydration Performance of High-Alite White Portland Cement Clinker

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sintering temperature and sintering time on mineral composition of high-alite white Portland cement clinker and hydration activity of the clinker. Effects of sintering temperature and sintering time on clinker mineral composition, C(3)S polymorph and size and hydration heat release rate were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry&Thermogravimetric Analysis (DSC-TG) and isothermal heat-conduction calorimetry. Results shown that, with the increase of sintering temperature (1450–1525 °C) and sintering time (60–240 min), free lime (f-CaO) in clinker decreased, C(3)S grain size increased, and C(3)S crystal type changed from T3 to M type and R type, which exhibits higher symmetry. The hydration activity of different C(3)S crystals ranged from high to low as follows: T3→M1→M3→R@.