Use of fatty acids as grinding aids for Portland cement clinker

This article examines the potential use of fatty acids as grinding aids for Portland cement clinker. The data are presented on the influence of certain fatty acids, butyric, stearic, and oleic, on the clinker grinding kinetics, the grinding fineness of the resulting cement, and its key physical and mechanical properties. Adding these acids at dosages of 0.01-0.1 % by weight improves grinding fineness. At dosages above 0.1 % by weight, the properties of the resulting cements deteriorate. A dosage of 0.025 % by weight is considered optimal due to its economical acid consumption and a significant increase in specific surface area. It was established that in terms of their effectiveness as grinding intensifiers under laboratory conditions, butyric and stearic acids can be comparable to industrial products.