Determining the effect of magnesium oxide on the clinkering, physical and mechanical properties of cement, at Tororo cement Uganda limited.

Abstract

The effect of MgO on the composition and properties of alite-sulphoaluminate cement clinker with commercial grade raw materials such as limestone ,clay gypsum and fly ash as starting materials has been depending in order to confirm previous results received with pure raw materials .the experiment results confirm that the addition of MgO at about 2-5% can improve the burnability of the raw meal ,promote the absorption of free lime and formation of C3S and C4AS.in addition it is shown that this can also increase the strength development of the cement and shorten the setting time. when the content of MgO reach about 8%.the strength of cement measure slight and the setting time is extended. The cements containing 2-5% MgO contain more bound water than cement with below 2%. clinkers containing about 2-5% MgO are more compact and have a reduced inclusion content. The cement samples at around 8% MgO increase the setting time while those with less MgO content have a short setting time.