Effect of amine and glycol-based grinding aids utilization rate on grinding efficiency and rheological properties of cementitious systems

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to give a new viewpoint of choosing utilization rates and type of grinding aids (GA), taking into account cement-polycathoxylate ether-based water-reducing admixture (PCE) compatibility. For this purpose, the effects of amine and glycol-based GA utilization rate on clinker grinding efficiency and the physical properties of cement were investigated. The setting time, fresh state, rheological properties, and compressive strength of the mixtures prepared with the produced cements were examined. In addition to the control cement containing no GA, two series of cement were produced by the addition of amine- and glycol-based GA to the clinker in four different contents. GA were added to the clinker at the rate of 0.025-0.050-0.075–0.1% of the total clinker and gypsum weight. Triisopropanolamine (TIPA) and Diethanol Isopropanolamine (DEIPA) were used as amine-based and Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) as glycol-based. Thus, a total of 17 different types of cement having similar Blaine fineness were produced. According to the results, the GA utilization caused the production of cement with narrower particle size distribution. Besides, the GA utilization contributed significantly in terms of grinding efficiency and 28-day strength, and this positive effect increased gradually until a certain GA dosage. It was remarked that the TIPA showed high performance in terms of grinding efficiency and compressive strength, however, the reverse of this behavior was observed in the fresh state rheological properties. In terms of rheological properties, glycol-based GA performed better than amine-based. Irrespective of the GA type, 0.025% and 0.05% were obtained the optimum GA utilization rate in terms of cement-PCE compatibility and compressive strength, respectively.