CEMENT and CONCRETERESEARCH. Vol. 13, pp. 483-492, 1983.

Printed in the USA

0008-8846/83 $3.00 + 00. Copyright (c) 1983 Pergamon Press, Ltd.

THE EFFECT OF CHEI~IICAL CO~IPOSIT ION ON PORTLAND CEMENT

CLINKER GRINDAB ILITY

G. Frigione and F. Zenone

Cementir, Cementerie del Tirreno, Naples, Italy
and
M.V. Esposito
Department of Chemistry, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy

(Communicated by F.W. Locher)

(Received Nov. 15, 1982)

ABSTP~ACT
The relationship between specific power consumption
(Id.~/t) and Blaine fineness attained during grinding of
the Portland clinker is represented by an exponential
function. This function varies by stages. For each stage
the following equation may be written: In k~.~/t = a + bS,
where S is the Blaine fineness and a and b are constants
assigning different values at each stage. The values of
these constants for the first stage,up to about 250 m2/kg
Blaine, are not significantly affected by the chemical
composition of the clinker, while at the second stage,
about 250 - 500 m2/kg Blaine, the values of the constants
are affected by C3A , C4AI~, K20 and MgO contents.

Introduction
In the cement industry a considerable amount of energy is
absorbed by the grinding of Portland clinker. For an annual world
output of 500 million tons of cement, the energy required for
grinding is about 18,OO0 million k~q~, which is 0.5% of the
world's electric energy production (1,2). There are many factors
affecting power consumption during the clinker grinding: the most
difficult clinker to be ground can take as much as 80% more power
than the easiest one (3).
Numerous investigations have been carried out to correlate
the chemical or mineralogical characteristics of Portland cement
clinker with the power required to grind the clinker to a fixed
fineness with standard test mills simulating the behaviour of
483
484 Vol. 13, No. 4
G. Frigione, et a l .

industrial grinding plants. It has been shown (4) that the

increase of C3A and liquid phase of the clinker play a large
effect in increasing the specific power consumption to grind the
clinker to a Blaine specific surface area of 320 m2/kg. A higher
content of free lime aids grinding both at lower s~ecific surface
area values, 200 m2/kg, and at higher ones, 350 mZ/kg, (5). On
the other hand, according to Duda (6), the grindability,expressed
in terms of quantity of grinding product passed through the sieve
with 75 microns aperture size, decreases with the increase of the
silica modulus and C^S content, but is enhanced by higher C_S
content. Increase of ~he hydraulic modulus, while increases JC~S
at the expense of C^S, favourably influences the grindability~
measured as the Blaine fineness reached after a fixed period of
grinding in a vibrating mill (7).
However, even the process of clinker manufacture affects
its grindability. Clinkers cooled by air-quenching are more
readily ground than those cooled by planetaries (8). The
grindability of clinker produced by dry process is affected by
the type of preheater used (2). This is probably due to a more or
less porous structure obtained in the clinker (9), even though
varying opinions exist on the effect of porosity on clinker
grindability (10,11,12).
As may be seen, most of the Authors have studied the
influence of different factors on the greater or lesser response
of the clinker to the grinding force, by measuring the energy, or
time, required to reach one or, at most, to given finenesses.
The determination of one or two points, however, is not sufficient
to identify the grindability of a clinker, since the relationship
between specific energy consumption and fineness is not linear.
In Portland cement clinker, according to Zeisel (13), in
fact, the mathematical relationship between specific surface area
of the ground clinker and specific energy consumption may be
described by exponential law. However, with lover specific
surface area values there is a notable displacement from the
exponential law, since in the larger particles there are critical
points, such as fractures and cracks, which offer a minimum
resistance for their separation. According to Kravchenko (14),
however, the curve of the resistance that the clinker offers to
size reduction has three sections within each of which grinding
work is a linear function of the fineness reached. More recently
Pirotski (15) has shown that the kinetics of grinding follows an
exponential law with a constant which varies by stages.
This paper attempts to demonstrate that in Portland cement
clinker grinding the mathematical relationship between the
specific power consumption, ~ h / t , and the attained specific
surface area, Blaine value S, is represented by the exponential
function:
a + bS
~.~/t = e [i] (where a and b are constants)
Vol. 13, No. 4 485
CLINKER GRINDABILITY, COMPOSITION, POWERCONSUMPTION, BLAINE

and that, moreover, this relationship varies by stages. These

last, in the field of finenesses normally attained in the cement
industry, are two. In other words, for Blaine values up to 450 -
500 m2/kg, the constants a and b assume two different couple of
values. Furthermore we propose to investigate the effects of
chemical and mineralogical composition of the Portland clinker,
irrespective of the production process, on the values of a and
b, that is, on the kinetics of grinding.
Experimental Procedure
Forty-five different clinker samples,ranging from ordinary
Portland clinkers to special type, were collected from nine
different plants. Five unlike samples were investigated for each
plant. The chemical analysis and factors characterising the

TABLE 1
Chemical Properties of Clinker Samples, Percent by Weight.

P o t m t l a t ~ha~e Llae
C11~k~ C~nt©d. C~o~ltl~ (%) C ~ a p o . l t l ~ (~.) ~atu~.

~.o.1. $102 F~203 ~t203 CaO ~ ~03 a~O r~O l~ftee C38 C28 C~ C~ (%)

1 0.21 22.92 3,09 4`.$8 66`.48 1,41 0.33 0.10 0.64 0.38 ';8.4 21.6 6.6 9.9 92.9
2 0.14 22.79 2`.50 4'~97 66.03 1.40 0.8~ 0.17 0.73 0.30 34.8 24.0 8.3 8.~ 92.3
3 0,18 22,12 3,29 $,91 65`.78 1,42 0,88 0,22 0,83 0,30 51,4 24,5 9,9 10,5 92,6
4 0.37 22.86 2.30 4.70 6.5.53 1.41 0.81 0.20 0.86 0.72 $2`.4 26.0 8.0 8.1 92.1
.5 0.40 21.66 2`.95 6.18 64.61 1.9~ 1.07 0.34 0.99 1.51 43.4 29.3 11.4 9.0 92..5
6 1.18 21.60 2-93 5.77 64.70 2.10 0.30 0.41 0.84 1.93 47.3 26.0 10.3 8.9 93.5
7 1.12 22.29 2`.94 $.41 64.66 1.95 0.41 0.39 0.79 1.69 45.2 29.8 9.4 8.9 91.4
8 0.66 21.3~ 3`.28 6.00 66.23 1.89 0.47 0.47 0.82 2.33 50.8 22.9 10.4 10.0 96.0
9 1.13 22.56 2,.93 4.$8 65.33 1.61 0.37 0.40 0.78 1.69 52.4 25.2 7.1 9.0 93.0
10 1.31 20.76 2`.64 4`.82 67.24 1.42 0.66 0.41 0.82 4.28 60.6 11.4 8.3 8.0 102.6
11 0.34 23.16 2`.10 5.27 66.45 1.30 0.45 0.07 0.31 0.46 53.0 26.5 10.4 6.4 91.8
12 0.43 21.85 3.71 4.89 65.33 1..52 0.99 0.21 0.81 0.77 54.9 21.2 6.7 11,3 94.2
13 0.38 22.66 2.99 4.83 66.05 1.34 1.06 0.24 0.78 0.72 33.9 24.3 7.7 9.1 92.9
14 0.46 22.78 2'$6 4.85 66.03 1.39 0.92 0.17 0.73 0.39 53.1 23.8 8.5 7.8 92.7
15 1.03 21.95 2`.43 6.53 63.84 2.33 0.89 0.39 0.82 1.45 37.3 3~.8 13.2 7.4 90.2
16 0.$3 22.45 4`.73 4.77 63.97 1.21 0.92 0.16 0.99 0.22 47.4 28.6 4.6 14.5 89.4
17 0.$7 21.89 3`.23 3.85 65.06 1.$2 0.67 0.40 0.96 0.94 48.7 26.0 10.0 9.9 92,5
18 0.45 22.50 3`.$1 4.74 66.21 1.20 0.68 0.38 0.88 0.92 53.9 22.3 6.6 10.7 93.4
19 0.39 21.33 3`.78 $.43 6.5.49 1.33 1.02 0.39 0.90 1.06 ,55.4 19.4 7.8 11.5 95.5
20 0.83 21.81 4~07 3.20 66.08 0.81 1.28 0.36 1.28 0.94 63.8 10.9 1.6 12.4 98.0
21 0.$1 22.34 4`.20 3.16 66.09 1.11 1.14 0.20 0.89 1.25 63.7 16.0 1.3 22.8 9.5.8
22 0.87 23.16 3.76 3.77 65.3~ 1.11 0.80 0.32 0.97 1.02 53.1 26.3 3.6 11.4 91.1
23 0.47 21.96 4.19 3.63 65.85 1.11 1.20 0.40 1.25 2.36 .58.0 19.2 2.3 12.7 96.1
24 0.14 22.97 4.39 2.91 6.5.60 1.01 1.64 0.40 0.94 0.6.5 .59.5 21.0 0.3 13.3 92.0
25 0.74 21.67 4.39 3.24 65.66 0.91 1.29 0.37 1.3~ 1.04 66.7 11.8 1.2 13.4 97..5
26 0.12 21.70 2.99 5.01 65.96 1.32 1.48 0.36 0.88 2.10 .53.0 24.3 8.2 9.1 96.1
27 0.47 21.79 3.1.5 4.90 65.83 1.42 1.20 0.36 0.84. 1.88 53.6 22.0 7.7 9.6 95.6
28 0.33 21.86 3.08 4.92 6.5.82 1..52 1.10 0.36 0.82 2.20 &9.7 2.5.2 7.8 9.4 9.5.4
29 0.12 21'85 3.26 4.98 66.05 1.33 1.14 0.30 0.80 1.10 56.9 19.7 7.7 9.9 9.5..5
30 0.61 21.79 3.0~ 4.72 66.48 1.43 1.22 0.3.5 0.82 1.74 .58.4 18.4 7.4 9.2 97.0
31 0.72 21.90 3.09 .5.43 6.5.,e~. 1.62 0.78 0.30 0.73 1.18 52.0 23..5 9.2 9.4 93.9
32 0.67 21.k~ 2.91 .5.97 65.16 1.0~ 0.82 0.32 0.72 2.20 46.9 26.1 10.9 8.8 94..5
33 1.16 21.77 2.93 6.07 64.31 2.0~ 0.80 0.3.5 0.79 1.82 41.8 30.9 10.1 8.9 91.8
34 1.00 22`.$3 2.12 4.94 6.5..57 1.30 0.72 0.40 0.88 1.78 .54.1 23.8 9.6 6.4 93.3
3.5 0.37 21.49 3.48 .5.86 65.17 1.30 1.07 0.36 0.80 2.11 47.3 2.5.9 9.1 10.6 94.3
36 1.8~. 20.9~ 2.94 .5.26 64.17 1.46 1.46 0.3~ 1.38 2.01 .50.2 22.2 9.0 8.9 96.1
37 0.30 21`.8~ 3.04 4.98 66.3~ 1.33 1.30 0.38 0.72 1.69 .56.0 20'4 8.0 9.2 96.1
38 1.43 20.01 2.94 4.88 66.69 1.42 0.84 0.42 0.87 6.89 52.2 18.0 8.0 8.8 10~.7
39 1.18 21.10 2.77 4.74 66.74 1..51 0.72 0.40 0.77 3.68 58,.5 16.4 7.9 8.4 100.4
~0 0..58 22.39 2..58 4.88 66.09 1..51 0.36 0.27 0.84 2..50 .51.2 2.5.6 8.6 7.8 94.2
41 1.8~ 20.8.5 2.90 .5.48 64.17 1.73 1..50 0.13 0.78 2.91 4.5.8 23.2 9.6 8.8 96.2
42 1.5.5 21.50 2.73 6.0~, 63.13 1.84 0.89 0.39 0.98 1.9.5 38.6 32..5 11.4 8.3 91.4
43 1,21 21,43 2,93 .5,87 64.13 1,99 0.68 0,3.5 0.70 1,98 44,6 27,8 10.6 8,9 93.2
44 0,78 21,38 3,05 5,93 65.45 1,30 0,96 0.4.5 0,90 1.9.5 49.1 24.3 10.6 9.3 95.1
4.5 0.6~ 22.49 2.3~ 5.0~ 6.5.9.5 1.21 0.60 0.27 0.86 3.28 4.5.3 30.3 9.4 7.1 93.6
486 Vol. 13, No. 4
G. Frigione, et al.

Clinkers ~ materials B u r n l n s ~nd ¢oolin~ p l ~ n t s

1 - 5 ~8C~e - ~ I - B ~ e ~ ro~8~ kiln ~h 2-8~8ge

~ehea~e: ~d ~te c~ler.
6 - 10 ~ 8 ~ e - Clay - Pl~e ROCa~ kiln ~ 1 ~e.
ash
11 - 15 ~8t~e - C1~ - B~te ~t8~ ~ln ~ 4-st~e ~ T~LE 2
heater ~ ~a~e c~le:.

1 6 - 20 ~sC~e - C1~ - P ~ e ~ta~ ~Zn ~ 4-s~e p:~ Factors Charac=

~h hea~er ~ ~a~e c~le:.
~ - ~ ~,t~. - ~ - s~. - ~s ~t,~ ml= ~m ~-,~ terising the
Pl~e ash ~ea~er ~ ~a~e c~ler. Production Pro=
26 - ~ ~est~e - Clay ~t,~ ~1. ~ 4-.t~e ~ tess of Clinkers
hes~er ~ p1~e~a~ c~ler.
~I - 35 ~es~e - CI~ ~a~ kiln ~ ~-s~e ~
hea~er ~ ~a~e c~1~.
~ - 40 ~ s ~ e - CI~ Ro~a~ ~in ~ 4-s~e pr~
hea~er ~ ~a~e c~I~.
41 - 45 ~ s ~ e - CI~- Schlst - ~a~ ~In ~ ~stsse ~
5i1~cs hea~er ~ d ~ a ~ e c~l~.

production process for each group of clinkers from the same plant
are shown in Tables I and 2.
The tests were carried out on a representative sample for
each clinker, using a Zeisel grindability testing machine (16),
whose operating method is described by Lehmann and Haese (17).
The e~:perimental procedures are given in Table 3.
Blaine specific surface area of the ground clinkers was
determined according to AST~i C 204-79 "Method for measuring the
fineness of Portland cement by air permeability apparatus".
Grinding tests were made by grinding the clinkers for
different times, between 2 and 26 minutes, and then measuring
the corresponding Blaine specific surface areas, approximately
in the range iOO - 550 m2/kg. The grinding values represent the
average of three tests.
Results and Discussion
Equation [I] can also be written:
in k~h/t = a + bS [2]
whose curve derived in function of the Blaine specific surface

TABLE 3
Experimental Procedures of the Grinding Test.

Grinding ring loaded by a weight of 20 kg

Revolutions of the grinding ring 200 p.m.
Particle size range for the feed material 0.75 - I.O ~n
Quantity of material employed 30 g + 0.25 g (by
loss during test)
Vol. 13, No. 4 487
CLINKER GRINDABILITY, COMPOSITION, POWERCONSUMPTION, BLAINE

area: d In Id/h/t
d S [3]
gives a valutation of the kinetics of grinding. The behaviour of
this curve for clinker 2 is illustrated in Figure 1. It is noted
that, at least for the range of specific surface areas we have
considered, there are two stages in the kinetics of grinding.
Table 4 gives the Blaine
values corresponding to ~Id~
the point of inflection, 1.2~-
which characterises the '~
passing from one stage ~ I~0 • •

to the other, for each ~ 0.B " "~

of the Portland clinkers ~ o6 I . . . . . . .
investigated. ~I~~ " "'".....
An analogous ~ 0.4
result is attained if 0.2~
the experimental values = 0 ~ ~ ~ ~
100 200 300 400 500
are plotted in a co-
ordinate system: kWh/t Blaine Specific Surface Area , m2/ kg

on axis of ordinates~ in
logarithmic scale, and FIG. 1
Blaine specific surface d In kWht-I/d S as a
area on axis of ab- Function of Blaine
scissas. The experimen- Fineness. Clinker 2.
tal points produce, for
each clinker, two half-
line which intersect in ~
correspondence of the ~I~ .
/ -
point of inflection. ~
Figure 2 refers to the ~ ~ ~
3£ -~
graph, so plotted, for ~
clinker 2. For each I¢
half-line the intercept ~
with the Y-axis and =o ~
the slope represent the ~ s
5 ~
values of a and b con- ~
~ ~ ~ I ~ ~
stants, and which here- I~ m0 3o0 ~0 ~
after are referred to Blaine Specilic Surface Area , m~/kg
with the indices I and
II to identify the FIG. 2
stages I and II. The Power Consumption
values of these con- for Grinding as a
stants for each clinker Function of Blaine
are shown also in Table 4. Fineness. Clinker 2.

The existing correlations between the a and b values and

the chemical characteristics of the clinkers which the literature
indicates as affecting specific energy consumption during the
 488 Vol. 13, No. 4
G. F r i g i o n e , e t a l .

clinker grinding have been calculated. In particular, the

f o l l o w i n g chemical p a r a m e t e r s h a v e b e e n considered:
- the m i n e r a l compounds, c a l c u l a t e d a c c o r d i n g to Bogue,
- the C3S + C 2 S / C 3 A + C4AF and C 3 A / C 4 A F ratios,
the C 3 S / C 2 S ratio,
the lime saturation,
- the free lime and M g O content.
TABLE 4
The contents of N a 2 0 , K20
and SO 3 have also been B l a i n e V a l u e s C o r r e s p o n d i n g to the
considered, since their Inflection P o i n t and V a l u e s of a
presence, a l t e r i n g the phy and b Constants.
slco-chemical properties
of the melt, could affect Blalne
£nt~rcept b I . 102 b i I • 10 2
the structure of the C~l.k~ m /k~ az ~n
minerals in the clinker 1 235 1.069 o. 888 1.887 o. 540
(18), by changing their 2 2~ 1.260 0.866 1.881 0.557
3 264 1.095 0.827 1.725 0.588
r e s i s t a n c e to grinding. 4 238 1.484 0.757 2.066 0.512
The correlation 5 2~ 1.491 0.775 2.105 0.474
6 232 1.277 0.806 2.021 0.485
coefficients have been 7 284 1.065 0.807 1.855 0.529
r e p o r t e d in T a b l e 5. It is 8 239 1451 0.s06 2.068 0.548
9 212 1.333 0.816 1.868 0.563
i m p o r t a n t to note that the 10 194 1.456 0.829 2.111 0.492
11 307 0.902 0.917 2.144 0.513
scheduled (Fisher) r v a l u e 12 196 1.412 0.798 1.948 0~25
at the 17o level of signifi 13 26,2 1.401 0.759 2.058 0J~88
~ 14 255 0.96,9 0.917 2.019 0.497
cance for the examined 15 232 1.381 0.763 2.036 0.482
number of degrees of 16 210 1.588 0.771 2.112 0.522
17 216 1.178 0.911 2.063 0.502
f r e e d o m is equal to 0.382 18 209 1.156 0.861 1.878 0.515
19 225 1.209 0.847 2.004 0.493
and at the 5% level of 20 212 1.241 0.769 1.623 0.589
s i g n i f i c a n c e is equal to 21 283 1.~5 o.76,9 1.886 0.541
22 326 0.903 0.821 1.798 0.547
0.295. If the correlation 23 200 1.341 0.789 1.894 0.513
coefficient is g r e a t e r 24 125 1.335 0.696 1.438 0.614
25 226 1.142 0.797 1.626 0.583
than this s c h e d u l e d value 26 240 1.398 0.771 1.933 0.548
27 216 1.608 0.746 2.110 0.513
at the 1% level of signifi_. 28 211 1.504 0.731 1.934 0.527
cance, the equation of 29 195 1.272 0.909 1.985 0.544
30 205 1.208 0.814 1.654 0.596
regression line has been 31 288 1.237 O.819 2.056 0.535
written, T a b l e 6 32 249 1.340 0.815 2.092 0.513
" 33 216 1.022 0.982 2.018 0.520
The c o r r e l a t i o n s be ~ 215 1.220 0.979 2.257 0.496
-- 35 224 1. 435 O. 809 2.152 O. 490
tween the Blaine specific 36 185 1.340 0.815 1.880 0.523
surface area relating 37 222 1.428 0.823 2.156 0.495
38 218 1.505 0.787 2.154 0.490
to i n f l e c t i o n point and 39 183 1.647 0.713 1.975 0.533
40 205 1. 392 O. 839 1. 970 O. 557
the chemical parameters 41 280 1.052 0.797 1.849 O.512
h i t h e r t o m e n t i o n e d have 42 194 1. 180 O. 892 1. 894 O. 524
43 186 1. 314 O. 830 I. 878 O. 528
been calculated. The 44 195 1.279 O. 886 2.0OO O. 516
correlation coefficients 46 193 1.348 0.923 2.052 0.559

have been r e p o r t e d in T a b l e 7.

It is n o t e d that, again c o n s i d e r i n g only r e l a t i o n s h i p s at

the 1% level of significance:
Vol. 13, No. 4 489
CLINKER GRINDABILITY, COMPOSITION, POWERCONSUMPTION, BLAINE

eI bI eii blI

~0 o.os8 0.087 0.~8 .o.426

TABLE 5 so 3 O.149 .O. 396 -O. 368 O.174

Correlation Coefficients Be- s~o 0.305 -0.117 -0.012 .0.055

tween ai,aii,bi,bii Values and
Chemical Parameters. zzo 0.093 .0.262 -0.391 0.199

Free llme 0.405 -0.157 0.247 .0.212

C3S -0. 006 -0. 212 -0. 369 O. 411

C2S -0.133 0.262 0.298 -0.287

C3A 0.017 0.392 0.597 .0.513

C4AF 0.069 -0.421 -0.499 0.366

Lime satur. 0.357 -0.244 0.~28 0.008

C3S + C2S- -0.189 -0.181 -0.369 .0.331

C3A + C4AF
C3S 0.066 -0. 241 -0. 365 O. 332
C2S

C3A -0.056 O. 442 -0. 365 -0.481

C4AF
7

-as the free lime content is increased, the a I value is

increased,
- an increase in the b I value is observed with increasing C3A
content and decreasing SO 3 content,
- the all value increases with C3A content increase and higher
C3A/C4AF ratio but decreases with C4AF and K20 increase
and higher C3S + C2S/C3A + C4AF and C3S/C2S ratios,
-an increase in the bll value is observed with increasing C3S
and C3A content and with decreasing MgO content and
C3A/C4AF ratio.
It is very interesting to note that a I and b I values are
only partially influenced by the chemical composition of the
clinker: in fact, wide variations of free lime (3%) and SO 3 (1%)
or C3A (IO%) cause a variation in a I and b I values respectively
which induces very small variations in specific power consumption
during the clinker grinding (2-3 k~,~/t). Thus one can suppose
that the chemical composition of the clinker hardly affects the
extent of specific power consumption in the first stage of grind-
ing, and it is the burning and cooling conditions, probably owing
to the amount and type of porosity in the clinker, that do so.
~ ~ , ~ o =
o~O~ ~~ o
.N
~" 0N .N .l..J ~ ~
- ~ ~ ~
~ ~
~ ~v~° ~6~'o - ~9"~ ~v~° ~ ' o + 9~'~ ~ ~z'o + ~ ' L ~o 0 O ~
~KD ~[D • o ~ ~
~ ~ ~o~'o + ~o'~ s ~ ~L~o'o - ~6o'~ s~D
~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ •~ o
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> ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~,.o+~.~ ~,o.o-~.~ ~,o+,~o > ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~
"S ~ ~ZO'O + 6~L'O- ~ " ~ = ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ' ~
VED ~L~O'O - IEL'~ V~O ~ 0 " 0 + IOL'I VE3 990"O + E~'L V~O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ 0 ~
~ • ~ • ~
~ sZo z v 6 ~ ' o + ~ ' ~ sZo ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
o ~ ~
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O ~ ~ m
; o~ ~<; o..
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o ~'~ 0~'0 + %61"~ ~I ~x~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ .~
~
•~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .~
•C
~ 0~ ~ ' 0 - ~'~ o~ ~~ .N
~
~ ~ ~
~ ~ % o ~
~ o~ ~'o • ~o'~ o~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ "~ ~ ~~ '~
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~
~os ~,-o-~z~-z ~os~'o-~6"~ ~os ~ , u ~ ~.,~
~ .~ ~ N
~ H 0~,'0 - ~$6"~ ~H ~LI'O + ~69"I ~N ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~
EO~" IIq II= EO~" Iq I= ~
~ ~ ~
,~ O O ~
~
N ~ ~ O ~
" ~ ~ m O
=~ = ~
"s=a~a==~d I~°ImqO < ~ ~ ~~.~ .o ~ ~ ~
pu~ sanlm A llq ,lq ,II~ ,I~ uaa~a~ au~x
. uo!s~a=~a~ ~o s u o ! ~ n b ~ ~ • ~ ~
~ ~ .~ ~ ,~ ~
~ 9 ~
~o o•o ~ ~ ~
~ ~ O ~ > O
Vol. 13, No. 4 491
CLINKER GRINDABILITY, COMPOSITION, POWER CONSUMPTION, BLAINE

TABLE 7 during the clinker grinding by

Correlation Coefficients acting on all value: relatively
Between Blaine Values, slight variations of the K20 co~
tent (0.2%) lead to a decrease
corresponding to the
of about 10-15 kWh/t. The MgO
Inflection Point, and
Chemical Parameters. content has an analogous
influence but by acting on bii
M~ o.o9~ value: an increase of 1% may
lead to savings of about 20
so3 -o.237 ~/t with high Blaine values.
However, the influence of the
~o -o.2~9 C3S + C2S/C3A + C4AF ratio and,
in one way, of the C3S content
~o -o.2n is of different kind: increase
in the silicate/fluxes ratio and
FreeL~e -O.1S5 in C3S content, at the expense
of C2S , has opposite effects on
C3S -0.279
all and bll values. In function
c2s o.~8 of the Blaine specific surface
areas required, the influence of
c~ o.o~ one or other parameter will
predominate, though always
c~ -0.099 rather slightly.
In contrast, there is no
L~e,a~r. -0.202 correlation between chemical or
c~s+czs mineralogical composition of
0.125
cp +c~ the clinkers and Blaine fineness
~s -o.~36 corresponding to the intersec-
c2s tion point of the two exponen-
c~^ O.108 tial curves.
C4~

Conclusions
The mathematical relationship between specific power
consumption, k~,~/t, and Dlaine fineness, S, attained during
grinding of the Portland cement clinker is represented by an
exponential function. This function varies by stages. The stages,
in the range of industrial flnenesses, are two, for each of which
one may write the following equation:
In k~,~/t = a + bS
where a and b are constants that assume different values in the
two stages.
The Blaine value at the passage from one stage to the
other is not affected by chemical composition of the clinker.
The values of constants relative to the first stage, a I
and hi, are not significantly influenced by the chemical or
mineralogical composition of the clinker, while in the second
 492 Vol. ] 3 , No. 4
G. Frigione, et a l .

stage, from about 250 to at least 500 m2/kg Blaine, the values of
the constants, all and bll , are notably affected by the chemical
and potential-phase composition. In particular, in this later
stage the C3A content plays a determining role in increasing
specific energy cons~nption, while the C4AF content has the
opposite effect.
Larger contents of I~O and ~IgO result in the saving of
energy, the former acting on all and the latter on bll.
The ratio of the silicates (C3S + C2S) to the fluxes
(C3A + C4AF), as well as that of C3S to C2S , have opposite effect
on the values of the all and bll constants: according to the
Blaine fineness required, one or other of the constants will
predominate. Their influence, however, is always very slight.
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