The influence of the particle size distribution of cement on its strength characteristics

Competent management of cement grinding is a multi-tasking and controversial process. Until now, there is no clear answer in scientific and technical literature to the question of what percentage ratio of small, medium and large fractions determines the strength characteristics of cement at different ages, all other things being equal.
The article presents some of the results of research by the Belarusian Cement Holding Company (BCC) in the field of cement grinding optimization. In particular, such data are planned to be used in the modernization of the capacities of OAO Krasnoselskstroymaterialy, which is part of the BCC holding company, and the development of production of cement with improved characteristics, which has, on the one hand, a high early strength, and on the other hand, long-term alkalinity and hydration activity (which directly affects the integrity of reinforcements in reinforced concrete throughout the life cycle of the concrete structure). Individual monofractions of separated CEM I 42.5N cement produced by OAO Krasnoselskstroymaterialy were isolated and standard strength tests were carried out under natural hardening conditions and after steam treatment for fresh and "aged" cements. The article presents the dependencies of the strength characteristics of the cement matrix on the particle size of cement monofractions. An increase in the particle size over 30 μm leads to a decrease in the strength characteristics of cement stone at an early age under all the studied hardening conditions.