LA‐ICP‐MS and SEM‐EDX analyses for spatially resolved element detection in cement clinker phases

This study combines 2D element mappings which allows a more detailed analysis of clinker phase composition by using the advantages of both methods. One mapping is obtained by laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS), providing very good results for minor and trace element concentrations with a low spatial resolution. The other dataset is generated using energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDX) in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) which provides high‐resolution element mappings of cement clinker phases, with a low accuracy in chemical composition.

It is revealed that this approach enables to determine the major and trace element concentrations in phases like alite, belite and the interstitial phase (C₃A, C₄AF) of real Portland cement clinker. A protocol is shown how to record and subsequently register both datasets as such, that the combined analysis significantly broadens the output of the individual measurements. The low detection limits of LA‐ICP‐MS delivers trace element concentrations and the high spatial resolution and analytical accuracy of SEM‐EDX identifies the clinker phases. Results show that Ba, K, V, and Rb are preferentially incorporated into belite, while Na, Ti, and Mn is enriched in the interstitial phase. This allows to study the influence of minor and trace elements on the stabilization and reactivity of clinker phases.