Cement has been an essential and integral part of construction from the time when a primitive version was developed by the Romans. Currently, Portland cement is the most common type of cement worldwide and was first developed in the 19th Century.
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Laser diffraction is a rapid and effective method for measuring the particle size of cement. The size range of the Mastersizer 2000 particle size analyzer is perfect for measuring materials over broad size ranges. For instance, it is possible to measure raw mix to extra fine cement grades without changing any lenses. Samples can be dispersed in dry or wet form and the Scirocco dry powder feeder provides a simple method for dispersing the cement samples in larger volumes.
This article shows the particle size distribution of raw mix. The two cement grades, CEM I and CEM II, have been measured. CEM I showed a larger percentage of material between 3 and 30 µm, indicating higher compressive strength, while CEM II contains a larger proportion of coarse material which indicates a slower hydration time. The efficiency of a separator has been established from size distribution measurements of the feed, underflow and overflow. Finally, a contamination study has been conducted to reveal that making successive measurements of various types of cement has no impact on the calculated size distribution.
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This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Malvern Panalytical.
For more information on this source, please visit Malvern Panalytical.