Study of the clinker with scanning electron microscope

Written by sctunisie 30 december 1999 no comments

In the present work, we tried to determine the composition of the four main phases of the clinker: C3S, C2S, C3A and C4AF by using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). For this purpose, we have made polished sections of eight nodules of clinker from the two kilns I and II. The variation intervals of phase oxides were determined. The selection of analyses is based on the ratios CaO/SiO₂, CaO/Al₂O₃ and Al₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ depending on the phase. In many cases, these ratios differ from their theorical values. We did not have difficulties in the analysis of C3S and C2S crystals because of their abundance and large size. Whereas, some difficulties were found in the analysis of C3A and C4AF.