Quantitative Rietveld analysis of aluminous cement clinker phases

The mineralogical composition of high alumina cement (HAC) determines its u ltimate properties once it has been mixed with water. The mineralogy of HAC cannot be given from the chemical composition because the thermodynamic eq uilibrium usually is not reached during the production process. The Rietvel d method permits relatively quick quantitative phase analysis by fitting th e calculated X-ray diffraction (XRD) profile with the observed one. Synthet ic mixtures of pure phases were analyzed with this method in order to obtai n a set of "empirical corrections" to be applied to samples of HAC clinker without previous chemical treatment. Chemical composition estimated from th e weight percent of phases was in good agreement with composition obtained by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights rese rved.