The effect of calcination temperature and duration on the composition and morphology of synthesized c3a

Green building materials are gaining attention for achieving carbon neutrality in civil engineering. To reduce CO2 emissions from cement, using low-cement or cement-free materials with local supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is promising. Blended cements with SCMs enhance long-term strength, but low-clinker blends often have low early strength. To address this, understanding the hydration of ordinary Portland cement is crucial. While C3S has been studied, the role of C3A, the most reactive component of cement, has been explored less. This study aims to produce C3A in laboratory conditions, assessing the effects of calcination temperature and time on its composition and morphology. The C3A samples are prepared using the empirically computed amounts of CaCO3 and Al2O3. The proposed design aims to produce pure cubic C3A, with up to 3 wt.% of unreacted CaO and no mayenite C12A7 as side products. The results obtained demonstrated that the duration for which the maximum temperature is maintained before extracting the samples from the furnace is a crucial factor that exerts the most significant influence on the presence of mayenite in the C3A structure. The synthesized C3A will then be added into blends, and its impact on early strength will be evaluated. The findings from this study have the potential to provide valuable insights for designing and producing more environmentally friendly cements, with a specific focus on achieving superior early strength performance.