Course content

Overview of main and sub topics for the course: Cement components and their phase relations: Portland cement and its minerals. High temperature chemistry. Chemistry for production of Portland cement. Hydration of the individual cement phases and cement as a whole, reaction progress and products. Durability of cement based systems. Chemical admixtures and mineral additives for concrete (incl composite cements). High alumina cements and other specia lcements (e.g. low energy cements). Refractory cements. Polymers in cement based systems.

Learning outcome

After the candidate has taken and passed the course, he/she shall understand how cement clinker is produced in terms of raw material, kiln conditions and high temperature phase relations. Furthermore, the student will have acquired knowledge on how cement is produced from clinker, including clinker substitutions. The student shall understand the main reactions between the different cement minerals and water (hydration), as well as reaction and interaction of clinker replacements and supplementary cementing materials like blast furnace slag, fly ash, metakaoline, silica fume and natural pozzolana. The student shall also be able to differentiate between chemical admixtures used in concrete technology, as for instance plasticizing agents, and how they function together with cement in a concrete mix. The interaction between reinforced concrete and environmental parameters like carbon dioxide and chlorides with respect to durability and sustainability is also a topic that the student shall be familiar with.

Learning methods and activities

Voluntary exercises.

Course materials

Literature:Structure and Performance of Cements, 2nd Edition, Edited by J. Bensted and P. Barnes, Spon Press, London, 2002, ISBN 0-419-23330-X.

Credit reductions