The most important books of the Cement Industry(updated)

A challenge that all cement professionals face at some point in their career, is the search for information. Whether you have to prepare a course, solve a technical problem, design an equipment, modify the process or technically justify an investment. Unfortunately we do not always have experts on hand to help us.

        An excellent choice are books, as a quick source of information, training and consultation. But what books to buy? Since we could end up wasting our time and budget. For this reason I recommend, my list of “The most important books of the Cement Industry”:

1. Cement Data Book, 1985-1988  by Walter H Duda. – Rather than a book it is a small encyclopaedia consisting of 3 volumes, covering much of the equipment and processes in the cement industry.
2. The Rotary Cement Kiln, 1986 Second Edition by Kurt E. Peray. -. If you want to learn the basic principles of operation of a cement kiln, this is the book you should read. It is an excellent base for the training of the kiln operators, supervisors and production or process managers. It emphasizes what he calls the 27 kiln basic conditions. It includes a test to assess your learning of the book.
3. The Cement Plant Operations Handbook, third Edition  by Philip A Alsop. – One of the most complete books that can be found about Dry Process Cement Plant, covering the main aspects of it, from grinding to packaging. It shares relevant data of the equipment and its operation criteria. It has been widely distributed by the International Cement Review magazine.
4. Lea’s Chemistry of Cement and Concrete,  Fourth Edition, Edited by Peter C. Hewlett. – First published in 1935, it has kept unchanged its main objective to introduce the physical and chemical properties of the different types of cement and concrete. It has been used by generations of Quality Control and Laboratory specialists.
5. Innovations in Portland Cement Manufacturing, 2011 Second Edition by PCA (Portland Cement Association). The most comprehensive compilation that I know about the main innovations and trends in the cement industry. In this book, experts from around the world tell us each topic. Highly recommended for all the cement professionals.
6. Handbook for Designing Cement Plants, First Edition 2009 by SP Deolalkar. It covers almost all aspects of the design of a cement plant: machinery, lay-out, construction, electrical installation, economic feasibility studies, etc.
7. Cement Designing Green Plants, First Edition 2013 by SP Deolalkar. In addition to that mentioned by the author in his Handbook for Designing Cement Plants, he focuses in this book on the equipment, tools and technologies available for having a green plant. It speaks about the cements with additions, alternative fuels and the equipment used for waste heat recovery, as well as the latest technologies for reducing CO2 emissions.
8. Rotary Kilns, Transport Phenomena and Transport Processes, First Edition 2007 by Akwasi A. Boateng. Paul Watkinson gave us the best description of this book at the end of its foreword. “This book will become a benchmark for the study of the rotary kiln phenomena, for the design of new rotary kiln process, and for the modelling and analysis of existing processes. It will be an indispensable addition to the bookshelves of engineers in the cement industry”.
9. Cement Engineer’s Handbook, Fourth Edition 1983 by Labahn and Kohlhaas, This book has a very well gained reputation and frequently is known just as “Labahn”. Is a very thorough handbook covering all the cement plant areas from quarry to packing plant, it explains subjects that sometimes are overlooked for example: silos, maintenance, lubrication, automation, storage, handling and feeding systems.
10. Microscopical Examination and Interpretation of Portland Cement and Clinker, Second Edition 1999 by H. Campbell. A technical manual for improving quality control and production of portland cement and clinker using mineralogy and microscopical examination. This book also contains the latest information on preparation of samples, stains and etches, Ono’s method, and microscopical interpretation of clinker and raw materials.
11. Cement, principles of production and use, First Edition 2006 by F.W. Locher. This practical book provide the understanding of the chemistry of cement needed for the daily work of chemists, physicists, engineers and technologists in the cement industry.
12. Cement Chemistry Second edition by H. F. W. Taylor. This book is a classic of the Cement literature because the work of Taylor laid the foundations of our understanding of the structure at the nanometre level of C-S-H, the principal product of the cement hydration. At the end of 2015 the Third edition it will published.

13. Refractories Handbook This comprehensive reference details the technical, chemical, and mechanical aspects of high-temperature refractory composite materials for step-by-step guidance on the selection of the most appropriate system for specific manufacturing processes. The book surveys a wide range of lining system geometries and material combinations and covers a broad range of tests for the determination of the thermal, mechanical, strength, and resistance properties of refractories. With contributions from international specialists with widespread experience in the field, Refractories Handbook provides examples of refractory lining systems utilized in a range of cement industries

14. Materials Handling Handbook, 2nd Edition Sponsored jointly by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and International Material Management Society, this single source reference is designed to meet today’s need for updated technical information on planning, installing and operating materials handling systems. It not only classifies and describes the standard types of materials handling equipment, but also analyzes the engineering specifications and compares the operating capabilities of each type. Over one hundred professionals in various areas of materials handling present efficient methods, procedures and systems that have significantly reduced both manufacturing and distribution.

15. Fan Handbook: Selection, Application, and Design Here is the first comprehensive guide to all aspects of modern fan technology. The book takes you through the design, selection, maintenance, and repair of fans used in a wide range of applications and industries, including airfoils…centrifugal fans…mixed-flow fans…roof ventilators…cross-flow blowers…regenerative blowers… and more. You’ll find information on fan codes, standards, and specificationsÑplus complete details on fan testing, physical laws affecting fan performance, ventilation requirements, and symbols and conversion factors.

16. Special Inorganic Cements The only book to cover the use of special inorganic cements instead of standard Portland cement in certain specialist applications, such as oil well drilling or in a high temperature location. Special Inorganic Cements draws together information which is widely scattered in the technical literature. It describes various special cements, their chemistry and mineralogy along with the appropriate manufacturing processes, their hydration and hydration properties, and their applications.