Assessment of Altawseea Ordinary Portland Cement Northern Iraq: Mineralogy, Microstructure, and Hydration

The current study is an assessment of the Al-Tawsseea Cement Plant, located in northwest Iraq, Nineveh. This plant produces Ordinary Portland grade 42.5R according to I.Q.S No(5)/2019. was chosen determine mineralogy using X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope before after hydration. Physical tests were carried out such as Fineness Test (Blain) ( 331.4) M2/Kg, Soundness (Autoclave) 0.1% Compressive Strength (2 Days 22.35 N/mm2 28 47.81 N/mm2) Setting Time (Initial 150 Min Final 3:10 Hours) all physical are within requirements limits XRD analyses revealed that studied cement composed alite, belite, ferrite, aluminate which indicate good burning cooling processes, while hydration paste CSH, CH, Ettringite. Scaning showed microstructure, characterized by intensive intergrowth hypidiomorphic crystals belite (spherical oval shape) less but bigger than alite. After hydration, microstructure became dense calcium-silicate hydrate (C-S-H ) formed a lathe-like shape fill pores gave hardness compressive strength. pore diameters ranging from 9.9 more 15.9 µm. They look like circular or irregular randomly distributed decrease density, strength paste. According results test we can say it possible raise Al-Tawseea Plant 42.5R) increasing proportion calcium raw materials mixture specification. will lead increase value LSF C3S responsible for