Cement agglomeration

A method of forming an agglomerated particulate cement material comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing particles of unhydraulized Portland cement in a vessel having a frusto-conical portion;
• (b) fluidizing said particles in said vessel by injecting a fluidizing gas into said vessel using a cone blender, whereby said particles are caused to separate and roll in said vessel, said cone blender being associated with said frusto-conical portion of said vessel;
• and
• (c) introducing an aqueous solution consisting essentially of water and a water-soluble binder material into said vessel whereby said water is vaporized and does not hydrate said particles and said binder material deposits on said fluidized particles to thereby bond said particles together to form said agglomerated particulate cement material;
• wherein said binder material is polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of hydrolysis in the range of from about 87 percent to about 89 percent and a molecular weight in the range of from about 30,000 to about 80,000, and wherein the specific surface area of said agglomerated cement material is in the range of from about 0.050 to about 0.300 m.sup.2 /cc.