A method for the manufacture of a high alumina hydraulic binder comprising hydrating a source of aluminium ions with a source of calcium ions in the presence of water to form mineral hydrates and subsequently heating said mineral hydrates to form said high alumina hydraulic binder.

Lithium-treated calcium aluminate cement (CAC)-based products, concretes, and related techniques are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, a lithium-treated CAC mixture may be produced by intergrinding ground-down CAC, class C fly ash, a lithium compound, and a polycarboxylate material. In accordance with some embodiments, a cementitious material may be produced by intergrinding said lithium-treated CAC mixture with class C fly ash, sodium citrate, and a polycarboxylate material. In accordance with some embodiments, a concrete may be produced by mixing said cementitious material (including said lithium-treated CAC mixture) with rock, sand, and water.

Lithium-treated calcium aluminate cement (CAC)-based products, concretes, and related techniques are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, a lithium-treated CAC mixture may be produced by intergrinding ground-down CAC, class C fly ash, a lithium compound, and a polycarboxylate material. In accordance with some embodiments, a cementitious material may be produced by intergrinding said lithium-treated CAC mixture with class C fly ash, sodium citrate, and a polycarboxylate material. In accordance with some embodiments, a concrete may be produced by mixing said cementitious material (including said lithium-treated CAC mixture) with rock, sand, and water.

Disclosed is a method for using a secondary or tertiary alkanolamine for grinding cement, the method including: forming an inorganic acid salt of the alkanolamine; and adding the salified alkanolamine to a grinder.

Disclosed is a method for using a secondary or tertiary alkanolamine for grinding cement, the method including: forming an inorganic acid salt of the alkanolamine; and adding the salified alkanolamine to a grinder.

In one embodiment, a retarded acid system comprises an aqueous acid and a retarding surfactant. The aqueous acid may comprise from 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of a strong acid, that is, an acid having a K.sub.a greater than or equal to 0.01. The aqueous acid may further comprise from 75 wt. % to 95 wt. % water. The retarding surfactant may have the general chemical formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.X—OH where R is a hydrocarbon having from 11 to 15 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 10. The retarding surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance from 8 to 16.

The present invention provides a method and system for manufacturing cement wherein ground particles of cement and calcium sulfate are subjected to infrared sensors, laser sensors, or both, so that emanated, irradiated, transmitted, and/or absorbed energy having wavelengths principally within the range of 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter can be monitored and compared to stored data previously obtained from ground cement and sulfate particles and preferably correlated with stored strength, calorimetric, or other data values, such that adjustments can be made to the mill processing conditions, such as the form or amounts of calcium sulfate (e.g., gypsum, plaster, anhydride), or cement additive levels. The strength and other properties of cement can be thus adjusted, and its quality can be more uniform.

The present invention provides a method and system for manufacturing cement wherein ground particles of cement and calcium sulfate are subjected to infrared sensors, laser sensors, or both, so that emanated, irradiated, transmitted, and/or absorbed energy having wavelengths principally within the range of 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter can be monitored and compared to stored data previously obtained from ground cement and sulfate particles and preferably correlated with stored strength, calorimetric, or other data values, such that adjustments can be made to the mill processing conditions, such as the form or amounts of calcium sulfate (e.g., gypsum, plaster, anhydride), or cement additive levels. The strength and other properties of cement can be thus adjusted, and its quality can be more uniform.

Disclosed are exemplary method and system for manufacturing cement in a vertical roller mill (VRM) using humidity sensor readings. This enables adjustment of operational variables such as material feed, water, grinding additives, air flow, temperature, and their combinations. Exemplary embodiments allow manufacturers to predict and to improve cement properties, such as strength and setting time, by monitoring and managing humidity of air in the VRM and/or its air flow system.

Disclosed are exemplary method and system for manufacturing cement in a vertical roller mill (VRM) using humidity sensor readings. This enables adjustment of operational variables such as material feed, water, grinding additives, air flow, temperature, and their combinations. Exemplary embodiments allow manufacturers to predict and to improve cement properties, such as strength and setting time, by monitoring and managing humidity of air in the VRM and/or its air flow system.