Monocalcium aluminate

Monocalcium aluminate

Names
IUPAC name Monocalcium aluminate
Identifiers
PubChem	159415
Properties
Chemical formula	CaAl2O4
Molar mass	158.038676 g/mol
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Monocalcium aluminate (CaAl₂O₄) is one of the series of calcium aluminates. It does not occur in nature, but is important in the composition of calcium aluminate cements.

Properties

Monocalcium aluminate is formed when the appropriate proportions of calcium carbonate and aluminium oxide are heated together until the mixture melts. It melts incongruently at 1390 °C. The crystal is monoclinic and pseudohexagonal, and has density 2945 kg.m⁻³. In calcium aluminate cements, it exists as a solid solution in which the amount of minor elements depends upon the bulk composition of the cement. A typical composition is Ca_0.93Al_1.94Fe_0.11Si_0.02O₄. It reacts rapidly with water, forming the metastable hydrate CaO·Al₂O₃·10H₂O, or a mixture of 2CaO·Al₂O₃·8H₂O, 3CaO·Al₂O₃·6H₂O and Al(OH)₃ gel. These reactions form the first stage of strength development in calcium aluminate cements.