Investigating thermal effect of castor seed shell use as cement raw mix admixture

Abstract

This study investigated the thermal effect of castor seed shell inclusion as a cement raw mix admixture. Four samples of cement raw mix were designed using different formulations. Samples 1, 3, 4 have castor seed shell additive while sample 2 is the control of the research and was designed without castor seed shell additive. Temperature measurement recorded during the calcination of the raw mix showed that for samples 1, 3 and 4, the inclusion of castor seed introduced fluxes into the mix and acted as an additional fuel which rapidly increased the calcination temperature and resulting in a more rapid dissociation of raw mix thereby lessening the time needed for the formation of the clinker by 30 minutes and above. Thermogravimetric analysis of the samples showed that the inclusion of castor seed shell in the cement raw mix impacted positively on the thermal stability of the cement sample. Sample 1 had the highest thermal stability and two stages of decomposition. However, the inclusion of castor seed in sample 1, 3 and 4 resulted in an increased loss in mass above the thermal stability temperature. Sample 2 had a four-stage decomposition process when heated at a constant rate to a temperature of 1000⁰C but exhibited a higher level of thermal stability temperature higher than sample 3 and 4.