Optimization of a Sorel cement synthesis using experimental design methodology

A split-plot design has been used to simultaneously optimize the optimum conditions for synthetizing an oxysylfate cement (MOS). Three mixture components, magnesium oxide MgO, magnesium sulfate MgSO4, and water and two process variable levels, mixing time and speed mixing were varied. The appropriate mathematical model, bilinear-special cubic, that can predict mechanical properties of cement from experimental data, has been validated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) with which sums of squares, luck of fit, and standard error estimates of regression model were calculated. Optimized mixture proportions for each factorial design level were determined. Optimum conditions in the (+ +) main plot with proportions of three components: magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and water respectively 45, 30, and 25%. The split-plot design is a good solution to simultaneously optimize process and mixture variables of this chemical system facilitating operational procedures.