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The micro-structural character of limestone and its influence on the formation of phases in calcined products: natural hydraulic limes and cements

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Abstract

The properties of natural hydraulic binders are directly influenced by the composition of the raw materials used in their production. Depending on the specific composition and conditions in the kiln during burning, the process results in the transformation of the natural raw material and the formation of new phases based on chemical interactions between neighbouring mineral components (solid–state ion migration). A series of laboratory experiments was performed in order to compare the characteristics of various limestones with their properties, phase composition and phase-to-phase relationships after burning. The main objective was to thoroughly understand the relationship between the composition of the raw material and the characteristics of the burnt product. A set of 21 limestone samples were first characterised in terms of raw materials (including their chemical composition), and then individually burnt in an electrical furnace to obtain calcined products. Optical microscopy, SEM–EDS, and XRD-QPA were used to assess the micro-structural character of the material before and after calcination, identifying the relationships between the character and amount of the non-carbonate impurities, the size and character of the carbonate matrix, and the constituted phases. The results show that the chemical composition, expressed as the cementation index, can be used to predict the hydraulicity of calcined limes. However, for this to be reliably applied to an unknown limestone, an understanding of the petrographic characteristics is necessary. The paper demonstrates several different types of phase to phase relationships before and after calcination. It also points out the relation between the micritic and sparitic character of raw materials, and the hydraulicity of burnt products.

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Acknowledgements

The research was carried out with the support of the Czech Ministry of Culture, as a contribution to project DG20P02OVV028. Dr. Alberto Viani carried out the XRD-QPA, Petra Hauková carried out the wet chemical analysis, and Marek Eisler proofread the paper.

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  1. Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prosecká 809/76, Praha 9-Prosek, 190 00, Prague, Czech Republic

    Petr Kozlovcev & Jan Válek

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Correspondence to Petr Kozlovcev.

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Kozlovcev, P., Válek, J. The micro-structural character of limestone and its influence on the formation of phases in calcined products: natural hydraulic limes and cements. Mater Struct 54, 217 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-021-01814-7

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