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 16/224	1/10/1919 to 31/3/1920
Report 2: DSIR 16/225	1/4/1920 to 30/6/1920
Report 3: DSIR 16/226	1/7/1920 to 30/9/1920
Report 4: DSIR 16/227	1/10/1920 to 31/12/1920
Report 5: DSIR 16/228	1/1/1921 to 31/3/1921
Report 6: DSIR 16/229	1/4/1921 to 30/6/1921
Report 7: (not in the Archives)	1/7/1921 to 30/9/1921
Report 8: DSIR 16/230	1/10/1921 to 31/12/1921
Report 9: DSIR 16/231	1/1/1922 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 16/232	1/10/1923 to 31/12/1923
Report 17: DSIR 16/233	1/1/1924 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 16/234	1/10/1924 to 31/12/1924
Report 21: DSIR 16/235	1/1/1925 to 31/3/1925
Report 22: DSIR 16/236	1/4/1925 to 23/7/1925

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

Introduction
Conventional Terms		1
Enquiry No.6	Coal Dryer	1	Swanscombe
Enquiry No.7	Rotary Kiln & Coal Dryer	3	Wouldham Kiln 9
Enquiry No.8	12 Rotary Kilns	13	Bevans
Enquiry No.9	Rotary Kiln (150 ft)	13
Enquiry No.10	Rotary Kiln (200 ft)	13	Johnsons
Oil Fuel		13
Kiln Radiation Experiments		14
Grinding Plant Research		15
Enquiry No.11	Tube Mill Bearing Friction	15
Theory of Grinding Action		18
Enquiry No.13	Coal Grinding Plant	25
Raw Material Research		25

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

Introduction
Rotary Kiln Research		1
Conventional Terms		1
Rotary Kiln Proportions		1
Enquiry No. 12	Rotary Kiln 164 feet.	2	Shoreham
Enquiry No. 10	Rotary Kiln 200 feet.	5	Johnsons
Grinding Plant Research		6
Enquiry No. 13	Coal Grinding Mills	6	Wouldham
Sieves used on Grinding Plant Research		18
Tests on 18" x 18" Experimental Tube Mill		23
Experimental mill - 30" x 72"		38
Setting Time of Cement		39
Diagrams		46

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

Introduction		1
Rotary Kiln Research		2
Conventional Terms		2

Enquiry No. 12	Rotary Kiln 164 feet	2	Shoreham
Enquiry No. 12	Coal Dryer Tests	10	Shoreham
Enquiry No. 14	Rotary Kiln 130 feet	14	Vectis
Report by National Physical Laboratory on Radiation Losses		15
Grinding Plant Research		18
Enquiry No. 15	Tube Mill Test	19	Shoreham
Enquiry No. 16	Pendulum Mills Test	32	Vectis
Raw Materials Research		33
Setting Time Research		34
Diagrams		40

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

Introduction		1
Rotary Kiln Research		2
Conventional Terms		2
Enquiry No. 14	Rotary Kiln 130'0"	2	Vectis
Enquiry No. 17	Rotary Kiln 228'0"	8	Penarth
Standardisation of Instruments		10
Enquiry No. 18	Coal Dryer Research	11	Vectis
Grinding Plant Research		14
Enquiry No. 16	Pendulum Mills	14	Vectis
Tests on 18" Experimental Mill		21
Setting Time Research		28
Diagrams		38

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

Introduction
Enquiry No. 17	Rotary Kiln 228'6"	1	Penarth
Enquiry No. 19	Coal Grinding Plant	18
Tests with 18" Experimental Mill		28
Setting Time Research		29
Diagrams		43

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

Introduction
Director of Research and Laboratories		1
Grinding Research	Coal Grinding with 18" mill	2
	Standard Sand in 18" mill	3
	Summary of test with standard sand	8
Setting Time Research		13
	Effect of soluble salts	17
	Theory	33
Le Chatelier Tests		37

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 Kilns	1
	The Ascertained. Benefits of Rotary Kiln Research	24
	Specific Heats of Materials	27
	The Temperature of Clinkering	31
	Loss due to Carbon Monoxide in Kiln Gases	33
	Loss due to Excess Air in Kiln Gases	41
Grinding Research
	Experimental Mill	48
	The New Surface Theory	50
Viscosity of Slurry		89
Setting Time Research		108

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

Rotary Kiln Research		1
Grinding Research		10
Viscosity of Slurry		62
Investigation of a Waterproofing Composition		91
Setting Time Research		103

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 Bureau	1
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
	Introduction	2
	72" × 30" Experimental tube mill	3
	Microscopic measurement of particles	8
	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 sand	80
	(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 mill	1
Rotary Kiln Research
	Test of a Polysius rotary kiln at Works No. 26	6	Rhoose Kiln 1
Research on the effect of additions of organic, colloidal and other substances on the properties of Portland cement		23
Examination of standard sand for cement testing
	A comparison, by the Percussor method, of the relative hardness of two samples of standard cement	29
	Effect of variations of the grain size of standard sand upon cement testing	33

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 works	2
	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 speed	7
	Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill using the circular slot and radial slot discharge diaphragms	12
	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 material	21
	Air elutriation research	30
	The regrading of a previously graded sand	50
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 product	63
	Report on heat insulation data	75
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 Court	85

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 product	9
	Report on a series of tests on the 72" × 30" experimental tube mill using the air separation scheme	18
	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 elutriation	86
	Determination of the volume and surface constants of standard sand	91
The effect of additions of organic and inorganic colloidal and other substances on the properties of Portland cement		112
Rotary Kiln Research
	The drying of slurry	116
Bibliography
	Translation of an article on magnesia Portland cement, by Dr K Balthasar, Ton Industrie Zeitung, 49, 277, 1925	127
	Magnesia Portland cement: Memo from Mr W J Cooper	139

(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 research	26
	(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 slurry	55

Reports of the BPCRA