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Definitions & History

What is clinker?

Clinker is the solid material produced by the cement kiln that has sintered into lumps or nodules, typically of diameter 5-25 mm. The clinker weighs about 1100-1300 gms per litre. The litre weight of clinker is often indicative of the quality of clinker.

Clinkers are rapidly cooled (quenched) to preserve their reactive mineral constituents. Clinker, if stored in dry conditions, can be kept for several months without appreciable loss of quality. Because of this, and because it can be easily handled by ordinary mineral handling equipment, clinker is traded internationally in large quantities. The freight cost is much lower than that for the equivalent amount of finished cement.

Cement manufacturers purchasing clinker grind it as an addition to their own clinker at their cement plants. Manufacturers also ship clinker to grinding plants in areas where cement-making raw materials are not available.

Once the clinker is satisfactorily ground, it will have as many as 1.1 X 10¹² particles per kg.

FAQ

What is the Process of clinker production from raw feed to the final product (including development of compounds of cement)?

FUAQs

What is the importance of cooling rate of clinker?

What are the methods employed (other than chemical analysis) to control the quality of clinker?

What is the role of Glass in cement clinker?