Effects of Adding Boron Compounds to Glycol Based Grinding Aids on Cement Compressive Strengths Performance

In this study, the effect of substituting boron compounds with glycol-based grinding aids to the compressive strength performances of cement was investigated. Monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) were used as glycol-based grinding aids, and anhydrous borax and boric acid were used as boron compounds in the tests. CEM I type cement production was carried out with the addition of grinding aid mixtures to Portland clinker and some gypsum in the experiments. All produced cement samples were tested for Blaine fineness, xrf elemental analysis and 2, 7 and 28 days compressive strength tests. Test results of grinding aids of MEG and boron compounds mixture showed no increase in any age of compressive strengths performances related to MEG used itself. However, with the addition of boron compounds to DEG increased grinding aid performance at all ages (2, 7 and 28 days). Possible reasons for this increase could be borate esters formed with DEG and boric acid in a basic medium.