Effect of Iron Oxides on Activity of Calcium Aluminate Clinker in CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 System

The sintering characteristics at 1350 degrees C and leaching property at 80 degrees C of calcium aluminate clinkers in the CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 (C-A-S) system with different additions of FeO and Fe2O3 were investigated. FeO inhibits the conversion of beta-Ca2SiO4 to gamma-Ca2SiO4 and makes the clinker not pulverizable. FeO and Fe2O3 inhibit the formation of CaAl2O4, but promote the formation of Ca12Al14O33. The interplanar spacing at (2 1 1) crystal face of Ca12Al14O33 in the clinker increases with the increase of FeO addition, which indicates that FeO forms solid solutions in Ca12Al14O33. The clinkers with Fe2O3 addition form a new phase Ca2Fe2O3, and the amount of Ca2Fe2O3 increases with the increase of Fe2O3 addition. Both FeO and Fe2O3 do not affect the Al2O3 leaching rate of calcium aluminate clinker in sodium carbonate solution, but they increase the molar ratio of caustic Na2O to Al2O3 in the leached liquor.