ABSTRACT

When Portland clinker is ground on its own and then mixed with water, the aluminate phase C3A tends to react rapidly, the alite C3S progressively, with the other phases ferrite C4AF and belite C2S contributing too [3]. It is commonly said that when this happens there is a marked

increase in temperature and irreversible stiffening, which is quickly followed by setting, which corresponds to what is commonly referred to as 'quick set' or 'flash set'.