Raw Materials of Cement

D.
Raw Materials of Cement
Raw materials for Manufacturing Cement
The first step in the manufacture of Portland cement is to combine a variety of raw
ingredients so that the resulting cement will have the desired chemical composition. These
ingredients are ground into small particles to make them more reactive, blended together, and
then the resulting raw mix is fed into cement kiln which heats them to extremely high
temperatures.
Minerals of natural origin as well as industrial products can be used for the production
of cement. Starting materials for this purpose are mineral compounds containing the main
components of cement: lime, silica, alumina and iron oxide. Seldom are these components
found in the needed proportion in only one raw material. Therefore it is usually necessary to
select a measured mixture of a high lime component (lime component) with a component
which is lower in lime, containing however more silica, alumina and iron oxide (clay
component). These two main components are generally limestone and clay or limestone and
marl.
Examples of raw materials for Portland cement manufacture
Calcium Silicon Aluminum Iron

Limestone Clay Clay Clay
Marl Marl Shale Iron ore
Calcite Sand Fly ash Mill scale
Aragonite Shale Aluminum ore refuse Shale
Shale Fly ash Blast furnace dust
Sea Shells Rice hull ash
Cement kiln dust Slag
The ingredients listed above include both naturally occurring materials such as
limestone and clay, and industrial byproduct materials such as slag and fly ash. From Table 3.3 it
may seem as if just about any material that contains one of the main cement elements can be
tossed into the kiln, but this is not quite true. Materials that contain more than minor (or in
some cases trace) amounts of metallic elements such as magnesium, sodium, potassium,
strontium, and various heavy metals cannot be used, as these will not burn off in the kiln and
will negatively affect the cement. Another consideration is the reactivity, which is a function of
both the chemical structure and the fineness. Clays are ideal because they are made of fine
particles already and thus need little processing prior to use, and are the most common source
of silica and alumina. Calcium is most often obtained from quarried rock, particularly limestone
(calcium carbonate) which must be crushed and ground before entering the kiln. The most
readily abundant source of silica is quartz, but pure quartz is very unreactive even at the
maximum kiln temperature and cannot be used.
Raw materials of cement is primarily consisting of Lime, Silicate, Alumina, and iron oxide.
1. Lime:
Lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide.
It is the main constituent for manufacturing of cement which imparts cementing

property to cement. An excess quantity of lime causes expansion and disintegration of cement.
Deficiency in lime causes decrease in strength and the cement set quickly. If it is in right
proportion, it makes the cement sound and strong.
o Presence of lime in a sufficient quantity is required to form silicates and

aluminates of calcium.
o Deficiency in lime reduces the strength of property to the cement.
o Deficiency in lime causes cement to set quickly.
o Excess lime makes cement unsound.
o Excessive presence of lime cause cement to expand and disintegrate.
2. Silica:
Silicon dioxide is known as silica, chemical formula SiO2.
This play a major role in imparting strength to concrete. Silica undergoes the chemical
reaction with calcium to form dicalcium silicate (C2S) and tricalcium silicates (C3S). Excess silica
adds strength to cement but it prolongs the setting time.
o Sufficient quantity of silica should be present in cement to dicalcium and

tricalcium silicate.
o Silica imparts strength to cement.
o Silica usually present to the extent of about 30 percent cement.
3. Alumina:
Alumina is Aluminum oxide. The chemical formula is Al2O3.
This forms complex compounds with silica and calcium to impart setting property of
cement. It acts as a flux and lowers the clinkering temperature. Use of an excess amount of
alumina quickens setting time but reduces the strength of cement.
o Alumina imparts quick setting property to the cement.

o Clinkering temperature is lowered by the presence of the requisite quantity of
alumina.
o Excess alumina weakens the cement.
4. Iron Oxide:
Chemical formula is Fe2O3.
This is mainly responsible for imparting color to cement. The hardness and strength is
also improved to a certain extent. It helps in the fusion of raw materials during the manufacture
of cement.
o Iron oxide imparts color to cement.

o It acts as a flux.
o At a very high temperature, it imparts into the chemical reaction with calcium
and aluminum to form tricalcium alumino-ferrite.
o Tricalcium alumino-ferrite imparts hardness and strength to cement.
5. Magnesium Oxide:
Magnesium Oxide. Chemical formula is MgO.
It imparts strength when mixed in small quantity but excess amount makes the cement
unsound.
o Magnesia should not be present more than 2% in cement.

o Excess magnesia will reduce the strength of the cement.
6. Sulfur Trioxide:
Chemical formula is SO3
This makes the cement sound if present in small quantity but excess amount makes the cement
unsound.
o Should not be present more than 2%.

o Excess Sulfur Trioxide causes cement to unsound.

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D.

Raw Materials of Cement

Raw materials for Manufacturing Cement

Examples of raw materials for Portland cement manufacture

Calcium Silicon Aluminum Iron

Lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide.

It is the main constituent for manufacturing of cement which imparts cementing

o Presence of lime in a sufficient quantity is required to form silicates and

Silicon dioxide is known as silica, chemical formula SiO2.

o Sufficient quantity of silica should be present in cement to dicalcium and

Alumina is Aluminum oxide. The chemical formula is Al2O3.

o Alumina imparts quick setting property to the cement.

Chemical formula is Fe2O3.

o Iron oxide imparts color to cement.

Magnesium Oxide. Chemical formula is MgO.

o Magnesia should not be present more than 2% in cement.

Chemical formula is SO3

o Should not be present more than 2%.

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