What are the Types of Cement Clinker

Clinker is a nodular material which is produced in the kilning stage during the production of cement. It is used as a binder in many cement products. Clinker nodules are around 3-25 mm in diameter and dark grey in colour. Limestone and clay is heated to about 1400oC-1500oC in the rotary kiln to produce clinker.

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Types of Clinker There are five different special types of cement clinker

1. Surface Resistant Clinker – It contains 76% alite, 5% belite, 2% tricalcium aluminate, 16% tetracalcium aluminoferrite, and 1% free calcium oxide. Its production has decreased in recent years as sulfate resistance can be easily achieved by using granulated blast furnace slag in cement production.

2. Low Heat Clinker – It contains 29% alite, 54% belite, 2% tricalcium aluminate and 15% tetracalcium aluminoferrite with very little free lime. It is no longer produced as cement produced from ordinary clinker and ground granulated blast furnace slag has excellent low heat properties.

3. White Clinker - It contains 76% alite, 15% belite, 7% tricalcium aluminate, no tetracalcium aluminoferrite, and 2% free lime. However, the composition may vary widely. It produces white cement that is used for aesthetic purposes in construction. Majority of it goes into factory-made pre-cast concrete application.

4. Low-Alkali Clinker – Alkali content in Clinker is reduced by either replacing the raw-mix alumina source with another component, or by installing an “alkali bleed”. It involved removing some of the kiln system’s high temperature gases leading to some heat wastage.

5. Belite Calciumsulfoaluminate Ternesite (BCT) – This concept is used in producing a type of clinker with up to 30% less carbon dioxide emission. It improves energy efficiency. Also, the electricity costs for the manufacturing process is about 15% lower as well.