Research on the sintering process and characteristics of belite sulphoaluminate cement produced by BOF slag

The sintering process of belite sulphoaluminate cement (CSA1) clinker is still not clear to date. Besides, there are few reports concerning producing CSA by recycled BOF slag. Therefore, the sintering process of CSA was investigated from this perspective and the results can be a reference for BOF slag disposal. Four kinds of CSA clinkers with different additions of BOF slag were sintered at 1300 °C for 30 min. The sintering process was traced by heating microscope and the characteristics were analyzed by XRD, SEM-EDS and TAM Air. The results showed that the sintering degree of CSA clinker could be predicted by analyzing its sintering process. Furthermore, BOF slag could improve the melting state of CSA clinkers due to its composition containing iron oxide, manganese oxide and magnesium oxide. However, expansion was detected when the temperature reached 420 °C, which was arose by combined factors, namely volatilization of CO2 decomposed from MgCO3 and the thermal expansion of raw materials itself. The rational ratios of C2S, C4A3S¯, C4AF in CSA clinker with 14% BOF slag as raw material stood at 50%, 30%, 20% and its early hydration behavior was better than that of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at the initial 16 h.