Reports of the BPCRA

The British Portland Cement Research Association

Progress Reports

During the First World War, Government concern arose about the technical superiority of many aspects of German industry, and it was decided to encourage British industry sectors to set up shared R&D facilities on a "matched funding" basis. This scheme was launched in 1918, and the British Portland Cement Research Association was among the first to form. It was set up in November 1918. Activity (which was a continuation of the work of the existing Joint APCM/BPCM Research Committee) was conducted intensely in private during the first three quarters of 1919, but it was suggested, with pressure from Government, that some formal report should be prepared, if only to provide documentary evidence that Government money was being effectively spent. Work from October 1919 onward was described in official reports, on a three-monthly basis. Many of these reports are extant.

This article attempts to list the topics addressed by the BPCRA. Each report is designated by its National Archives number and by its dates.

Report 1: DSIR 16/2241/10/1919 to 31/3/1920
Report 2: DSIR 16/2251/4/1920 to 30/6/1920
Report 3: DSIR 16/2261/7/1920 to 30/9/1920
Report 4: DSIR 16/2271/10/1920 to 31/12/1920
Report 5: DSIR 16/2281/1/1921 to 31/3/1921
Report 6: DSIR 16/2291/4/1921 to 30/6/1921
Report 7: (not in the Archives)1/7/1921 to 30/9/1921
Report 8: DSIR 16/2301/10/1921 to 31/12/1921
Report 9: DSIR 16/2311/1/1922 to 31/3/1922
Report 10: (not in the Archives)1/4/1922 to 30/6/1922
Report 11: (not in the Archives)1/7/1922 to 30/9/1922
Report 12: (not in the Archives)1/10/1922 to 31/12/1922
Report 13: (not in the Archives)1/1/1923 to 31/3/1923
Report 14: (not in the Archives)1/4/1923 to 30/6/1923
Report 15: (not in the Archives)1/7/1923 to 30/9/1923
Report 16: DSIR 16/2321/10/1923 to 31/12/1923
Report 17: DSIR 16/2331/1/1924 to 31/3/1924
Report 18: (not in the Archives)1/4/1924 to 30/6/1924
Report 19: (not in the Archives)1/7/1924 to 30/9/1924
Report 20: DSIR 16/2341/10/1924 to 31/12/1924
Report 21: DSIR 16/2351/1/1925 to 31/3/1925
Report 22: DSIR 16/2361/4/1925 to 23/7/1925

Report 1: DSIR 16/224: 1/10/1919 to 31/3/1920

Introduction
Conventional Terms1
Enquiry No.6Coal Dryer1Swanscombe
Enquiry No.7Rotary Kiln & Coal Dryer3Wouldham Kiln 9
Enquiry No.812 Rotary Kilns13Bevans
Enquiry No.9Rotary Kiln (150 ft)13
Enquiry No.10Rotary Kiln (200 ft)13Johnsons
Oil Fuel13
Kiln Radiation Experiments14
Grinding Plant Research15
Enquiry No.11Tube Mill Bearing Friction15
Theory of Grinding Action18
Enquiry No.13Coal Grinding Plant25
Raw Material Research25

Report 2: DSIR 16/225: 1/4/1920 to 30/6/1920

Introduction
Rotary Kiln Research1
Conventional Terms1
Rotary Kiln Proportions1
Enquiry No. 12Rotary Kiln 164 feet.2Shoreham
Enquiry No. 10Rotary Kiln 200 feet.5Johnsons
Grinding Plant Research6
Enquiry No. 13Coal Grinding Mills6Wouldham
Sieves used on Grinding Plant Research18
Tests on 18" x 18" Experimental Tube Mill23
Experimental mill - 30" x 72"38
Setting Time of Cement39
Diagrams46

Report 3: DSIR 16/226: 1/7/1920 to 30/9/1920

Introduction1
Rotary Kiln Research2
Conventional Terms2
Enquiry No. 12Rotary Kiln 164 feet2Shoreham
Enquiry No. 12Coal Dryer Tests10Shoreham
Enquiry No. 14Rotary Kiln 130 feet14Vectis
Report by National Physical Laboratory on Radiation Losses15
Grinding Plant Research18
Enquiry No. 15Tube Mill Test19Shoreham
Enquiry No. 16Pendulum Mills Test32Vectis
Raw Materials Research33
Setting Time Research34
Diagrams40

Report 4: DSIR 16/227: 1/10/1920 to 31/12/1920

Introduction1
Rotary Kiln Research2
Conventional Terms2
Enquiry No. 14Rotary Kiln 130'0"2Vectis
Enquiry No. 17Rotary Kiln 228'0"8Penarth
Standardisation of Instruments10
Enquiry No. 18Coal Dryer Research11Vectis
Grinding Plant Research14
Enquiry No. 16Pendulum Mills14Vectis
Tests on 18" Experimental Mill21
Setting Time Research28
Diagrams38

Report 5: DSIR 16/228: 1/1/1921 to 31/3/1921

Introduction
Enquiry No. 17Rotary Kiln 228'6"1Penarth
Enquiry No. 19Coal Grinding Plant18
Tests with 18" Experimental Mill28
Setting Time Research29
Diagrams43

Report 6: DSIR 16/229: 1/4/1921 to 30/6/1921

Introduction
Director of Research and Laboratories1
Grinding ResearchCoal Grinding with 18" mill2
Standard Sand in 18" mill3
Summary of test with standard sand8
Setting Time Research13
Effect of soluble salts17
Theory33
Le Chatelier Tests37

Report 7: (not in National Archive): 1/7/1921 to 30/9/1921

Report 8: DSIR 16/230: 1/10/1921 to 31/12/1921

Rotary Kiln Research
The Consumption of Heat in Rotary Kilns1
The Ascertained. Benefits of Rotary Kiln Research24
Specific Heats of Materials27
The Temperature of Clinkering31
Loss due to Carbon Monoxide in Kiln Gases33
Loss due to Excess Air in Kiln Gases41
Grinding Research
Experimental Mill48
The New Surface Theory50
Viscosity of Slurry89
Setting Time Research108

Report 9: DSIR 16/231: 1/1/1922 to 31/3/1922

Rotary Kiln Research1
Grinding Research10
Viscosity of Slurry62
Investigation of a Waterproofing Composition91
Setting Time Research103

Report 10: (not in National Archive):1/4/1922 to 30/6/1922

Report 11: (not in National Archive):1/7/1922 to 30/9/1922

Report 12: (not in National Archive):1/10/1922 to 31/12/1922

Section 1.
(1) Library and Information Bureau1
Section 2.Grinding Research
(1) The relationship between the surface produced and the work done in grinding standard sand in a ball mill.3
(2) New surface produced on standard sand with a blow delivered by a 1 lb weight falling 10 ft compared with the surface produced by a blow made by a 10 lb weight falling 1 ft.17
(3) Notes on the packing of spherical particles.22
(4) Mechanical sieving.33
(5) Average size of particles retained on an I.M.M. sieve.37
(6) Research on the measurement of particles by suspension in a stream of air.40
(7) Report on I.M.M. standard sieves.53
Section 3.Rotary Kiln Research
(1) The temperature of decomposition of calcium and magnesium carbonates in the Portland cement rotary kiln.64
(2) Report on the heat of dissociation at ordinary temperatures of calcium carbonate (chalk, limestone).74
(3) Report on the heat of dissociation of calcium carbonate at the temperatures prevailing in a rotary Portland cement kiln.90
(4) A correction of the heats of formation of calcium silicates and aluminates.98
(5) Report on the heat developed from the oxidation of ferrous oxide, ferrous sulphide and iron pyrites in cement raw material.108
(6) Report on the heat developed during the production of calcium sulphate from calcium oxide, sulfur dioxide and oxygen.111
(7) Report on the heat evolved by the calcining and oxidation of ferrous carbonate.114
(8) Report on the design, construction, and preliminary test of a model rotary kiln at Rosherville Court.116

Report 13: (not in National Archive):1/1/1923 to 31/3/1923

Report 14: (not in National Archive): 1/4/1923 to 30/6/1923

Report 15: (not in National Archive): 1/7/1923 to 30/9/1923

Report 16: DSIR 16/232: 1/10/1923 to 31/12/1923

Grinding Research
Introduction2
72" × 30" Experimental tube mill3
Microscopic measurement of particles8
Determination of the absolute surface per unit weight of graded samples of ground Leighton Buzzard Sand, and of the factor connecting absolute surface with mean diameter.13
The adoption of a mean diameter of the particles forming a powder.27
Connection between the surface of crushed sand and its diameters.31
Connection between the total weight W and the diameter of the particles composing crushed sand.43
Rotary Kiln Research
Report on the heat evolved by the complete combustion of coal in 1 cubic foot of air measured at N.T.P.57
Research on the effect of organic, colloidal and other substances on the properties of Portland cement. 67
Miscellaneous
(1) Report on the relative strength under impact of three samples of standard sand80
(2) Standardisation of Sieve.89

Report 17: DSIR 16/233: 1/1/1924 to 31/3/1924

Grinding Research
Suggested alteration in the layout of a typical ball and tube mill1
Rotary Kiln Research
Test of a Polysius rotary kiln at Works No. 266Rhoose Kiln 1
Research on the effect of additions of organic, colloidal and other substances on the properties of Portland cement23
Examination of standard sand for cement testing
A comparison, by the Percussor method, of the relative hardness of two samples of standard cement29
Effect of variations of the grain size of standard sand upon cement testing33

Report 18: (not in National Archive): 1/4/1924 to 30/6/1924

Report 19: (not in National Archive): 1/7/1924 to 30/9/1924

Report 20: DSIR 16/234: 1/10/1924 to 31/12/1924

Grinding Research
Report on data sheets of tube mill operation from various cement works2
Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill, the object being to ascertain the effect of increasing the rate of feed to the mill under constant conditions of ball load and mill speed7
Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill using the circular slot and radial slot discharge diaphragms12
Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill using 1" steel balls as the grinding medium and standard sand as the material21
Air elutriation research30
The regrading of a previously graded sand50
Rotary Kiln Research
The influence of the velocity of the current of air on the rate of drying of slurry and also on the coherence of the dry product63
Report on heat insulation data75
Raw Materials Research
Report on tests carried out on the Thermos type recuperative gas furnace made by The British Furnaces, Ltd., at Chesterfield and Rosherville Court85

Report 21: DSIR 16/235: 1/1/1925 to 31/3/1925

Grinding Research
Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill using 30 cwt of 1" steel balls as the grinding medium, and varying the rate of feed to the mill.1
Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill using 25 cwt of 1" steel balls as the grinding medium, the object being to ascertain the effect of the rate of feed to the mill upon the finished product9
Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill using the air separation scheme18
A resumé of the work carried out by the BPCRA on the 18" × 18" and 72" × 30" experimental tube mills, dealing with the influence of ball load, speed of mill, type of grinding medium, and method of discharge upon the fineness or quality of the mill product.35
Preparation of four graded sands by air elutriation86
Determination of the volume and surface constants of standard sand91
The effect of additions of organic and inorganic colloidal and other substances on the properties of Portland cement112
Rotary Kiln Research
The drying of slurry116
Bibliography
Translation of an article on magnesia Portland cement, by Dr K Balthasar, Ton Industrie Zeitung, 49, 277, 1925127
Magnesia Portland cement: Memo from Mr W J Cooper139

(Final) Report 22: DSIR 16/236: 1/4/1925 to 23/7/1925

Grinding Research
(1) The variation in the specific gravity of quartz sands with grinding.1
(2) Air elutriation research26
(3) Report on the relationship between the work done in grinding and the new surface produced.43
Rotary Kiln Research
(1) Report on the drying of slurry55

NOTES

Note 1.