NZ627432B2 - A method of forming a gypsum based product - Google Patents

A method of forming a gypsum based product Download PDF

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Publication number
NZ627432B2
NZ627432B2 NZ627432A NZ62743212A NZ627432B2 NZ 627432 B2 NZ627432 B2 NZ 627432B2 NZ 627432 A NZ627432 A NZ 627432A NZ 62743212 A NZ62743212 A NZ 62743212A NZ 627432 B2 NZ627432 B2 NZ 627432B2
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NZ
New Zealand
Prior art keywords
slurry
alpha
hemihydrate
gypsum
water
Prior art date
Application number
NZ627432A
Other versions
NZ627432A (en
Inventor
Jean Luc Germain
Jean Louis Mongrolle
Original Assignee
Saint Gobain Placo Sas
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB1121589.4A external-priority patent/GB2497574B/en
Application filed by Saint Gobain Placo Sas filed Critical Saint Gobain Placo Sas
Publication of NZ627432A publication Critical patent/NZ627432A/en
Publication of NZ627432B2 publication Critical patent/NZ627432B2/en

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Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01FCOMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM, CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THE RARE-EARTH METALS
    • C01F11/00Compounds of calcium, strontium, or barium
    • C01F11/46Sulfates
    • C01F11/466Conversion of one form of calcium sulfate to another
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B11/00Calcium sulfate cements
    • C04B11/02Methods and apparatus for dehydrating gypsum
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B11/00Calcium sulfate cements
    • C04B11/02Methods and apparatus for dehydrating gypsum
    • C04B11/028Devices therefor characterised by the type of calcining devices used therefor or by the type of hemihydrate obtained
    • C04B11/032Devices therefor characterised by the type of calcining devices used therefor or by the type of hemihydrate obtained for the wet process, e.g. dehydrating in solution or under saturated vapour conditions, i.e. to obtain alpha-hemihydrate
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B2103/00Function or property of ingredients for mortars, concrete or artificial stone
    • C04B2103/10Accelerators; Activators
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B2111/00Mortars, concrete or artificial stone or mixtures to prepare them, characterised by specific function, property or use
    • C04B2111/00474Uses not provided for elsewhere in C04B2111/00
    • C04B2111/00612Uses not provided for elsewhere in C04B2111/00 as one or more layers of a layered structure
    • C04B2111/0062Gypsum-paper board like materials
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B28/00Compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, containing inorganic binders or the reaction product of an inorganic and an organic binder, e.g. polycarboxylate cements
    • C04B28/14Compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, containing inorganic binders or the reaction product of an inorganic and an organic binder, e.g. polycarboxylate cements containing calcium sulfate cements
    • C04B28/145Calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate with a specific crystal form
    • C04B28/146Calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate with a specific crystal form alpha-hemihydrate
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B38/00Porous mortars, concrete, artificial stone or ceramic ware; Preparation thereof
    • C04B38/10Porous mortars, concrete, artificial stone or ceramic ware; Preparation thereof by using foaming agents or by using mechanical means, e.g. adding preformed foam

Abstract

method of forming a gypsum based product is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: calcining a mixture of water and gypsum under conditions of raised temperature and pressure within a vessel to produce an alpha-hemihydrate slurry therein; passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the vessel to a mixer for mixing with additional water to produce a settable slurry, which is arranged to set to form the gypsum based product. to a mixer for mixing with additional water to produce a settable slurry, which is arranged to set to form the gypsum based product.

Description

A Method Of g A Gypsum Based Product The present invention relates to a method of forming a gypsum based product.
Gypsum occurs naturally as a raw material in the form of calcium sulphate dihydrate.
Gypsum containing products, such as rboard, are prepared by forming a mixture of calcined or dehydrated gypsum, namely calcium sulphate hemihydrate, with water, to form a settable slurry which is then cast into a pre-determined shape. The hemihydrate reacts with the water and becomes re-hydrated to the dihydrate crystal, which is then cured or dried to the solid state.
The hemihydrate form of gypsum is known to depend on the calcination process, and is rised into two basic forms, the alpha-hemihydrate and the beta-hemihydrate. The beta-hemihydrate is typically formed by g gypsum under atmospheric conditions, to drive off any moisture and chemically combined water to form dried crystals, which may then be ground to a fine powder. The beta-hemihydrate has long been the favoured hemihydrate in the production of gypsum wall boards or plasterboards, owing to the rapid re-hydration of the ground crystal in forming the slurry. However, the gypsum product derived from the emihydrate is lly soft and the beta-hydrate requires large volumes of water to produce the required slurry fluidity.
The alpha-hemihydrate is formed by heating gypsum under pressure to rly remove the water associated therewith. The gypsum product d from the alpha-hemihydrate r, is found to be harder and comprises a higher strength and density compared with beta-hemihydrate d gypsum.
It is necessary to use substantial amounts of water in gypsum slurries in order to ensure proper flowability of the slurry. Unfortunately, most of this water must eventually be driven off by heating, which is expensive due to the high cost of the fuels used in the heating process. The heating step is also time-consuming. It is known that alphahemihydrate has a substantially lower water demand than beta-hemihydrate, meaning that if alpha-hemihydrate could be used in making wallboard, it would substantially reduce the water demand and hence the expense and time required to produce the wallboard. This is a further advantage associated with alpha-hemihydrate.
However, alpha-hemihydrate is not generally used commercially in the production of gypsum wallboard primarily due to its slower hydration rate compared to betahemihydrate , which would therefore require a slower passage of boards along the production line.
WO2007/084346 discloses a method for the production of alpha-type gypsum. A gypsum slurry is delivered into an autoclave, where it is heated typically to a temperature of about 280 F (about 137 C) under a pressure of 3-4 Bar and converted to alpha drate. The slurry exits the ave via a pressure let down valve and is delivered to a flash tank, where it is cooled and excess steam is collected.
US2008/0069762 discloses a process for making a blend of alpha- and beta-stucco.
The process includes a slurry calcination step in which gypsum slurry is held in a reactor at a temperature of e.g. 149 C and a pressure of e.g. 3.4 to 4.8 Bar. The partially calcined gypsum product discharges from the reactor as a slurry comprising calcium te ate and alpha calcium sulphate hemihydrate and feeds an accumulator tank, which acts as a holding tank and permits release of the steam as the slurry’s pressure drops to atmospheric pressure. The slurry then discharges from the accumulator tank and feeds a ering unit which removes water to produce a dewatered -containing t and a removed water stream. The dewatered product has a 2-6wt% free water moisture content. The dewatered product is fed to a board stucco kettle calciner at conditions to convert the majority or all of the gypsum in the dewatered product to beta calcium sulphate hemihydrate.
In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a method of forming a gypsum based product, the method sing the steps of: calcining a mixture of water and gypsum under conditions of raised temperature and pressure within a vessel to produce an alpha-hemihydrate slurry therein; reducing the water content of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry to provide a te water stream from the alpha-hemihydrate slurry; and subsequently passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the vessel to a mixer for mixing with additional water to e a settable slurry, which is arranged to set to form the gypsum based product, wherein the step of passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the vessel to the mixer comprises the step of maintaining the temperature of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry at over 70 C.
The term ‘comprising’ as used in this specification and claims means ‘consisting at least in part of’. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include the term ‘comprising’, other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related terms such as ‘comprise’ and ‘comprised’ are to be interpreted in a similar manner.
Advantageously, the method eliminates the requirement for drying of the drate, which is associated with the conventional formation of the settable slurry, and therefore reduces the energy demands of the .1 Moreover, the reduced water amounts associated with achieving the desired fluidity of alpha-hemihydrate le slurry ed with beta-hemihydrate, es a further energy saving since less water must be removed during the drying of the gypsum product.
Preferably, the calcination step comprises substantially filling the vessel with water and gypsum so that the vessel is substantially devoid of free space, such that the water ed during the calcination of gypsum is prevented from evaporating.
Preferably, the raised temperature comprises a temperature within the range between 110 C and 170 C, preferably n 120 C and 150 C, more ably between 130 C and 140 C. lly, the pressure is adjusted in accordance with the operating temperature, such that the operating pressure corresponds to the vapour pressure of steam at the operating temperature. Preferably, the raised pressure comprises a pressure within the range 2-8 Bars, more preferably 3-5 Bars. 1 This advantage and other stated advantages are advantages of at least preferred embodiments of the invention. It is not necessary for every embodiment of the invention to meet each stated advantage.
The method preferably further comprises the step of cooling the alpha-hemihydrate slurry after the calcination step. Typically, the step of cooling the alpha-hemihydrate slurry takes place while the alpha-hemihydrate slurry is still held at the raised pressure of about 2 to 8 Bars. Typically, the step of cooling the alpha-hemihydrate slurry is carried out using a heat exchanger. ably, the alpha-hemihydrate is cooled to a temperature less than 100 C, such as 90 C.
Preferably, after the step of cooling the alpha-hemihydrate slurry, the slurry is depressured to a pressure of 1 Bar (i.e. atmospheric pressure).
Typically, the method further comprises the step of ntially separating the water from the alpha-hemihydrate slurry after the step of reducing the pressure acting on the alpha-hemihydrate slurry. This may be done e.g. using a belt filter or a centrifugal separator, i.e. hydroclone. Preferably, in this case, the separated water is ated for mixture with a fresh quantity of gypsum, for introducing into the vessel to start a further calcination process. In this case, the heat energy ned within the separated water reduces the requirement for heating of the vessel to achieve the raised temperature of e.g. 110 C to 180 C.
In the case that water is ted from the alpha-hemihydrate slurry, the free water content of the remaining slurry is typically 1-30wt%, preferably 5-30wt%, more preferably Preferably, the method further comprises the step of grinding the alpha-hemihydrate slurry to reduce the size of particulates therein. It is thought that grinding of the alphahemihydrate slurry results in a greater reactivity of the alpha-hemihydrate les, so as to increase the hydration rate of the alpha-hemihydrate particles during the step of g a settable slurry. The step of grinding the alpha-hemihydrate slurry may be carried out using wet grinding techniques. In this case, the ng may be carried out at a temperature of 50 C or more, preferably 70 C or more, more preferably 80 C or more.
Methods for controlling the size of the alpha-hemihydrate particles during the calcination stage are known in the art and may be used as an alternative or in addition to the grinding step.
During the step of passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the ation vessel to the mixer, the temperature of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry is maintained at over 70 C.
By maintaining the temperature of the hemihydrate slurry at this level, it is thought that hydration of the alpha-hemihydrate particles to form a settable gypsum product may be avoided until entry of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry into the mixer. Preferably, the ature of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry is maintained at over 80 C, more preferably over 85 C.
In addition, it is desirable that the step of passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the calcination vessel to the mixer should not take too long, so as to further avoid hydration of the alpha-hemihydrate les until entry of the particles into the mixer. lly the time taken for the hemihydrate slurry to pass from the calcination vessel to the mixer is less than 120 minutes, preferably less than 60 minutes, more preferably less than 30 minutes.
It is thought that the addition of cold water (e.g. about 20 C-30 C) in the mixer, for mixing with the alpha-hemihydrate slurry will rapidly decrease the temperature of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry, so as to e the hydration of the alpha-hemihydrate particles to form a settable gypsum product.
The method further comprises the on of one or more further additives to the drate slurry within the mixer, such as accelerators and foaming agents.
Preferably, the gypsum based product comprises a gypsum board.
In accordance with the present disclosure as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a method of forming a gypsum based product, the method comprising the steps calcining a mixture of water and gypsum under conditions of raised temperature and pressure within a vessel to produce an alpha-hemihydrate slurry therein; passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the vessel to a mixer for mixing with additional water to produce a le slurry, which is arranged to set to form the gypsum based product, wherein the hemihydrate slurry is passed from the vessel to the mixer without undergoing a drying stage.
Preferred features of the method of the second aspect may comprise one or more of the preferred features of the method of the first aspect.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which provides a schematic ration of the steps ated with the method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to the drawing, the method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the initial step of g a mixture 20 of water and gypsum 10 in a ratio of approximately 1 part gypsum to 1.5 parts water, pressurising the mixture in a pressuriser 30 and pre-heating it by means of a heat exchanger 40 (e.g. a water/water heat ger). The mixture is then introduced into a calcination vessel 50, e.g. by means of a pump or in a long water column. The mixture is subsequently heated to a temperature in the range 1300C-1400C and the vessel 50 is pressurised to a pressure in the range 3-5 Bars. The vessel 50 is substantially filled with the mixture to remove any free space therein, such that the water within the vessel 50 and principally the water derived from the calcining of the gypsum, is prevented from evaporating and thus escaping from the vessel 50. ing the calcination stage the resulting mixture of water and alpha-hemihydrate slurry 60 is cooled to a temperature of approximately 900C using the heat exchanger 40, de-pressurised in a de-pressuriser 70 and passed to a separation unit 80, wherein the hemihydrate slurry is substantially separated from the water. The water is ated from the separation unit 80 back to the vessel 50 to preheat subsequent water and gypsum before entering the vessel 50 and thus reduce the energy demands associated with the heating of the mixture. The alpha-hemihydrate slurry sing approximately 6% water is passed from the separation unit 80 to a mixer 90, for subsequent post processing of the slurry which includes the addition of water 100 and optional additives, such as accelerators 110 (for reducing the setting time) and foaming agents 120 to produce a settable slurry. It is also envisaged however, that the post processing may r comprise the grinding of the hemihydrate slurry (e.g. in a screw grinder 140) to reduce the size of particulates disposed therein before the alpha-hemihydrate slurry is introduced into the mixer 90. In this respect, the hemihydrate slurry is passed to the mixer 90 to achieve the required fluidity and setting characteristics, without undergoing any drying stage, thereby reducing the energy demand in producing the gypsum product. Moreover, the resulting settable slurry comprising 30-40% water which is then passed to a production line 130 for subsequent preparation of a gypsum t such as a plasterboard, will require less curing owing to reduced amounts of water which are required to attain the desired ty of the alpha-hemihydrate settable slurry, compared with the amount of water required to attain the desired fluidity of a beta-hemihydrate settable slurry. Since hemihydrate typically has a slower hydration rate than beta-hemihydrate, the setting times for hemihydrate slurry are typically longer than for beta-hemihydrate slurry. Thus, in the cture of gypsum boards, it is lly desirable when using alpha-hemihydrate slurry, to have a longer forming belt to provide sufficient time for setting of the slurry.

Claims (15)

Claims
1. A method of forming a gypsum based product, the method comprising the steps 5 calcining a mixture of water and gypsum under conditions of raised temperature and pressure within a vessel to produce an alpha-hemihydrate slurry therein; reducing the water content of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry to provide a separate water stream from the alpha-hemihydrate slurry; and subsequently passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the vessel to a mixer for mixing with 10 additional water to produce a settable slurry, which is arranged to set to form the gypsum based product, n the step of passing the alpha-hemihydrate slurry from the vessel to the mixer comprises the step of maintaining the temperature of the alpha-hemihydrate slurry at over 70 C.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the calcination step comprises substantially g the vessel with water and gypsum so that the vessel is substantially devoid of free space, such that the water produced during the calcination of gypsum is prevented from evaporating.
3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, n the raised temperature comprises a temperature within the range 110 C to 170 C.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the raised 25 pressure comprises a re within the range 2 to 8 Bars.
5. A method according to any one of the ing claims, further comprising the step of cooling the alpha-hemihydrate slurry after the step of calcining the mixture of water and gypsum.
6. A method according to claim 5, n the hemihydrate slurry is cooled to a temperature less than 1000C.
7. A method according to claim 5 or claim 6, comprising the further step, after the step of cooling the alpha-hemihydrate slurry, of de-pressurising the slurry.
8. A method according to claim 7 further sing circulating the separated water 5 stream to preheat further gypsum before entering the vessel.
9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein after the step of reducing the water content of the hemihydrate slurry, the water content of the alphahemihydrate slurry lies within a range of 1-10wt%.
10. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprises the step of grinding the alpha-hemihydrate slurry to reduce the size of particulates therein.
11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the time taken 15 for the alpha-hemihydrate slurry to pass from the vessel to the mixer is less than 120 minutes.
12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the addition of one or more additives to the hemihydrate slurry within the mixer, such as an 20 accelerator and/or a foaming agent.
13. A method ing to any ing claim, wherein the gypsum based product ses a gypsum board. 25
14. A method according to claim 1, substantially as herein bed with reference to any embodiment disclosed.
15. A method substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. 4mmmm> 02_._.<m_I m_._.<N_n_>I-__>_m_I >mm3._w r 02_._.<m_Im_N_n
NZ627432A 2011-12-15 2012-12-13 A method of forming a gypsum based product NZ627432B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1121589.4A GB2497574B (en) 2011-12-15 2011-12-15 A method of forming a gypsum based product
GB1121589.4 2011-12-15
PCT/EP2012/075353 WO2013087754A1 (en) 2011-12-15 2012-12-13 A method of forming a gypsum based product

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
NZ627432A NZ627432A (en) 2016-03-31
NZ627432B2 true NZ627432B2 (en) 2016-07-01

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