The Master thesis deals with utilization possibilities of fly ash after selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) process for Portland cement preparation as a correction component to the raw material with regard to contaminated fly ash by ammonium sulphate or ammonium hydrogensulfate that is one of the products from SNCR process. Presented thesis was focused on behaviour of raw meal with ammonia hydrogensulfate contaminated fly ash after SNCR during burning of Portland clinker in simulated kiln conditions. The thesis deals with Portland clinker preparation from this kind of raw mix and it studies mainly clinker quality, clinker phases and structure. Quantitative phase composition of prepared samples of clinker was performed by optical microscopy measurements using point counting method and XRD analysis (Rietveld method). Hydration heat flow of prepared clinker was measured by Isothermal Calorimetry. TG-DTA analysis of prepared raw meal was studied due to better comparison of prepared samples and better understanding of processes during burning process.

O projeto enfocou a aplicação da difração de raios-X (DRX) na caracterização e quantificação dos compostos cristalinos do clínquer de cimento Portland, através do método de Rietveld, constituindo-se em contribuição pioneira sobre o tema em âmbito nacional. Foram utilizadas 40 amostras de clínquer provenientes de cinco diferentes unidades fabris, visando ampla representatividade do material de estudo. O clínquer de cimento Portland é o material sinterizado e peletizado, resultante da calcinação de uma mistura adequada de calcário e argila e, eventualmente, de componentes corretivos. Os compostos metaestáveis do clínquer Portland podem ser subdivididos em três grupos distintos: os silicatos cálcicos (C3S e C2S), a fase intersticial (C4AF, C3A, C12A7), e o grupo dos componentes menos freqüentes como o periclásio, a cal livre e os sulfatos. As proporções destes compostos são parâmetros importantes no controle de processo industrial de clinquerização. O método de Rietveld tem por base a simulação de todo o perfil difratométrico a partir de parâmetros estruturais das fases constituintes, permitindo refinar parâmetros de natureza instrumental e cristalográfica. A comparação do difratograma calculado com o observado e redução das diferenças através do método de mínimos quadrados permitem a obtenção de resultados quantitativos. DRX-Rietveld apresentou-se como uma técnica de quantificação de elevada reprodutibilidade com vantagens de cunho técnico e logístico com relação aos dois métodos correntemente utilizados no Brasil (microscopia e cálculo potencial de Bogue). Técnicas analíticas adicionais permitiram comparar resultados quantitativos obtidos por DRX-Rietveld e também correlacionar características dos compostos com o seu perfil difratométrico. A microscopia óptica foi a técnica de maior importância para comparações tanto qualitativas como quantitativas. A microscopia eletrônica (MEV-EDS) permitiu a aferição de fases não identificadas por microscopia óptica, como o C12A7 e sulfatos. A técnica de dissolução seletiva, aplicada para a concentração da fase intersticial, deu suporte para a aferição quantitativa de teores de polimorfos do C3A. A técnica mostrou resultados coerentes com a microscopia e o cálculo potencial de Bogue, sendo que constituintes não quantificados nestes puderam ser introduzidos (C12A7 e sulfatos), bem como possibilitou a distinção entre polimorfos de um mesmo composto (C3A). A redução no tempo de análise e a diminuição da subjetividade das análises, face às metodologias usuais, constituem fatores importantes da técnica visando atender os interesses da indústria do cimento. / The project has focused on the application of X-ray diffraction (XRD) on the characterization and quantification of the Portland cement clinker crystalline compounds using the Rietveld method. The present research represents a pioneer scientific contribution on the theme in Brazil. Overall forty clinker samples from five distinct kiln lines were collected for analysis aiming to get a broad representativeness of various cement process parameters. Portland cement clinker is the sintered and pelletized product from calcination of an adequate mix of limestone and clay and minor corrective materials. The metastable Portland clinker compounds are subdivided into three main groups: calcium silicates (C3S and C2S), matrix (C4AF, C3A, C12A7) and minor components as periclase, free lime and sulfates. The proportioning of these phases are important parameters to the industry clinkering process. The Rietveld XRD method is based on the simulation of the whole diffraction spectrum from the components structural data, allowing for refining instrumental and crystallographic parameters. By comparing the calculated and actual diffractograms and minimizing differences mathematically through a least squares method quantitative values are obtained. The Rietveld XRD has shown to be a high reproducible quantification technique, with technical and logistics advantages in comparison to the more usual microscopy and Bogue potential calculation. Additional analytical techniques have given reference data to compare quantitative results obtained from Rietveld XRD and to correlate characteristics of the compounds with their diffractogram profile. Optical microscopy was the most relevant technique for comparison both qualitative and quantitatively. Scanning electronic microscopy - energy dispersive system has allowed recognition of phases that could not otherwise be identified by optical microscopy, like C12A7 and sulfates. Selective dissolution of silicates carried out in order to concentrate matrix compounds sustained the quantitative results of C3A polimorphs found by Rietveld XRD. Rietveld has shown coherent results with both microscopy and Bogue potential calculation, but additionnally made it possible quantifying other compounds like C12A7 and sulfates, as well as distinguishing C3A polimorphs. The significant time saving and subjectivity minimization it provides makes up key-factors for the cement industry needs.

The issue of Hexavalent chromium toxicity to Portland cement hydration is a very actual these days. It takes much effort to obtain a cement containing Cr(VI) less than 2 ppm. The primary objective of this diploma theses is to find appropriate reducing substances and specify their efficiency, as well as to make an attempt to optimize their dosage. As reducing substances there were plumbed sulphites and tin(II) salts. The influence of reducing substances applied to the hydration and cement properties were validated by strenght tests, the calorimetric measurement and the volume-variation measurement. And also the changes in hydration products microstructure of Portland clinker after the gypsum replacement by sulphite ions were plumbed. The study of microstructure is based on SEM and XRD methods.

This thesis aims to burn raw material with a lower content of carbonate component for the production of Portland cement. Substitution of carbonate component is done by fluidized fly ash. The model cements are tested of basic technological properties and the hydration process is observed.

Portland clinker is thanks to its large-scale production a continuously studied topic. Clinker, or Portland cement, is used for construction purposes, or for insulation and special applications. One of these special applications could be shielding of different types of radiation by making use of the content of barium ions. The present master’s thesis examines the influence of barium oxide on the formation and properties of Portland clinker, which could be, by incorporation of barium ions into the system, used as a binder for buildings resistant to various types of radiation. Barium sulfate and barium carbonate were added to the raw meal in order to prepare clinkers with different content of barium oxide. The effect of barium on the formation of clinker phases was studied (by XRD – Rietveld analysis and by the microscopic point integration), as well as the effects on the variations of temperature of the phase formation (TG-DTA) and the rate of alite formation under isothermal conditions. Furthermore, the ability of barium to become a part of clinker minerals was studied by SEM with EDS, and the solubility of barium phases by ICP-OES. The hydration of clinker minerals containing barium was studied by isothermal calorimetry.