Influence of lithium on the formation and properties of Portland cement clinker

Lithium consumption in the production of batteries and accumulators for energy storage is increasing. It can be foreseen that the amount of waste with higher content of this metal will grow. Since cement production is one of the main users of secondary and waste raw materials on a mass scale, it is desirable to monitor the impact of this element on the properties of clinker and cement. In laboratory conditions, the effect of minor oxide – Li2O on formation of Portland cement clinker was observed. The research deepens the current knowledge about the effect of this oxide on phase composition and structure of clinker. Last but not least, the influence on the technological parameters of cements prepared from Li doped clinkers was also observed. X-ray diffraction, DTA, optical and electron microscopy were employed as research methods. Among other things, it has been found that Li2O causes the decomposition of the alite, the major clinker phase, to a microcrystalline mixture of belite and free lime, depending on its content and clinker cooling rate. Moreover, cements with sufficient technological parameters were prepared from clinkers burned at 1350 °C with Li2O up to 1 wt.%.

Author: T. Stanek, A. Rybova, A. Zezulova, M. Bohac

Section: Science and production

Keywords: Portland cement clinker, lithium oxide, burning, cement