Influence of Limestone Content and PSD of Components on Properties of Clinker-Calcined Clay-Limestone Cements Produced by Intergrinding

This paper looks at the study of intergrinding for the production of ternary cement based on clinker, calcined clay, limestone and gypsum with 50% of clinker substitution (LC3). The impact of grinding time on clinker, limestone and calcined clay PSD, and how this parameter influences the overall performance of the ternary cement is assessed. Laboratory cement blends were produced by grinding all components in a batch laboratory mill. Industrial cements produced through intergrinding in a continuous ball mill were used for comparison. Three fractions were identified: d < 7 µm, 7 µm < d < 40 µm and d < 40 µm, for each of the cements studied and the amount of each component were assessed. Fresh and hardened state properties of blends were tested. Results indicate that in intergrinding most of clinker remains at the medium fraction, and further grinding cannot improve clinker fineness due to fine calcined clay muffle clinker fineness gaining. PSD of limestone and calcined clay is wider than clinker PSD, with a high amount of each material on fine fraction, having a strong impact on rheology. A change in calcined clay/limestone ratio from 2:1 to 1:1 improves clinker grinding and rheology but has a negative impact on strengths due to the less proportion of calcined clay that impact negatively on the pozzolanic reaction.