Abstract
Recent developments in detector performance for powder X-ray diffraction have led to a drastic increase in the speed of measurement. In addition, software development of the Rietveld method has enabled a rapid quantitative analysis of crystalline phases that is expected to be applicable to in-plant processes and quality control. However, there has not been sufficient study of how to prepare samples for the measurement of clinker and cement, and how to appropriately grind samples for measurement. This study examines the preparation conditions of clinker and cement samples for fast X-ray diffraction and the Rietveld method. The following conclusions were reached. （1）The fineness of the clinker sample affects the calculated mineral composition, especially for alite and belite. （2）Clinker minerals can be appropriately determined when the Blaine surface area of the specimen is controlled within a range of 3000 to 4500cm2/g. （3）The mineral composition determined by the Rietveld method is little affected by difference in the grindability of clinker prepared under the same grinding conditions. （4）There is no need to grind samples for portland cement measurement.
