Optimization of the synthesis of monocalcium aluminate for improvment of the hydration reaction.

International audienceThe improvment of the hydration reaction of monocalcium aluminate synthetized by high temperature solid-solid reaction implies the obtention of calcium super-stoichiometric phases in the CaO.Al2O3(1-x) + 12CaO.7Al2O3 system and a comminution of the solid by a vibrating crushing process. Several researches dealing with factors which affect the hydration kinetics of monocalcium aluminate CA*(the main component of high-alumina cement) have been in progress in our laboratories for the five past years. This paper shortly describes recent investigations on the influence of both the composition near C/A = 1 and the grinding process of the anhydrous phase on the reactivity of the solid. That has let us to optimize the synthesis and the aluminate to improve the hydration reaction