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Abstract
Crystalline calcium aluminates are a critical setting agent in cement. To-date, few have explored the microscopic and dynamic mechanism of the transitions from molten aluminate liquids, through the supercooled state to glassy and crystalline phases, during cement clinker production. Herein we report the first in situ measurements of viscosity and density across all the principal molten phases, relevant to their eventual crystalline structures. Bulk atomistic computer simulations confirm that thermo-physical properties scale with the evolution of network substructures interpenetrating melts on the nanoscale. We have demonstrated that the glass transition temperature (Tg) follows the eutectic profile of the liquidus temperature (Tm), coinciding with the melting zone in cement production. We have uniquely charted the viscosity over 14 decades for each calcium aluminate phase, projecting and justifying the different temperature zones used in cement manufacture. We have revealed the fragile-strong phase transitions across all supercooled phases coinciding with heterogeneous nucleation close to 1.2Tg, where sintering and quenching occur in industrial-scale cement processing.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1902209 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Advanced Science |
Volume | 7 |
Early online date | 26 Nov 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 22 Jan 2020 |
Keywords
- aerodynamic levitation
- calcium aluminates
- cement
- fragile–strong phase transitions
- molecular dynamic simulation
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- 1 Finished
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Deep Water: Hydrous Silicate Melts and the Transition Zone Water Filter
Lord, O. T. (Principal Investigator)
12/10/16 → 31/10/20
Project: Research