Synthesis and properties of belite-ye’elimite-ternesite cement clinker at 1200 °C

Abstract

Belite-ye’elimite-ternesite (BYT) cement is a new type of cement with low energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Notably, the sintering temperature of ye’elimite (C₄A₃$) is approximately 150 °C higher than that of ternesite (C₅S₂$) and belite (C₂S). To facilitate the simultaneous presence of three minerals, the mineralizer (CuO) was used to reduce the formation temperature of C₄A₃$ in this work. Thermogravimetric (TG) was utilized to investigate the sintering temperature of minerals within the clinker. Furthermore, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscope were applied to analyze the phase composition and microstructure, respectively. The findings reveal that BYT cement clinker can be synthesized in one step at 1200 °C by adding 4% CuO. Ternesite (C₅S₂$) initiates hydration by 28 d, contributing to the stable development of medium-term strength. Optimal mechanical properties were observed with a ratio of C₄A₃$:C₂S:C₅S₂$ at 40:50:10, achieving a 28 d strength of 43.7 MPa.

Keywords:

• belite-ye’elimite-ternesite cement
• mineralizer
• CuO
• low temperature
• mineral composition
• properties

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Yancheng Institute of Technology for its technical support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are appropriate for the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51872252) and Jiangsu Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project (202310305210H).