Question

What is the optimum value of lime saturation for cement

Answer 1

Lime saturation factor: new insight. Lime saturation factor (LSF), associated to silica ratio (SR) and alumina modulus (AM) is well known as an useful tool to calculate the raw meal of Portland cement clinker. Unfortunately, LSF gives little information on the quality of the clinker (% of C3S or alite).

Answer 2

Lime saturation factor or LSF is the ratio of calcium oxide(CaO) and the three main oxides-SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3, i.e. oxides of silicon, aluminium and ferric(iron) respectively.

This is generally indicated as a percentage and therefore multiplied by 100.

In modern clinkers( lumps present in cement) , LSF values range from 0.92 to 0.98 i.e. 92% - 98%.

Values greater than 1 means- free lime present in clinker.