Combined LA-ICP-MS and SEM-EDX analyses for spatially resolved major, minor and trace element detection in cement clinker phases

This study combines 2D element mappings obtained by laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to analyse the chemical composition of cement clinker phases. It is revealed that this approach enables to determine the major and trace element concentrations in phases like alite, belite and the interstitial phase of real Portland cement clinker. A protocol is shown how to record and subsequently register both datasets as such, that the combined analysis significantly broadens the output of the individual measurements. The low detection limits of LA-ICP-MS delivers trace element concentrations and the high spatial resolution and analytical accuracy of SEM-EDX identifies the clinker phases. Results show that Ba, K, V, and Rb are preferentially incorporated into belite. This allows to study the influence of minor and trace elements on the stabilisation and reactivity of clinker phases. [Display omitted] •The study demonstrates a way to combine LA-ICP-MS and EDX to analyse the element composition of cement clinkers.•The high resolution EDX segmentation allows to elevate the data usability gathered by LA-ICP-MS.•It was possible to distinct between the main phases and to demonstrate the enrichment of minor Elements in specific phases.