Slag Substitution as a Cementing Material in Concrete: Mechanical, Physical and Environmental Properties

Abstract

A circular economy is a current tenet that must be implemented in the field of construction. That would imply the study of the possibilities of the use of waste generated, for obtaining materials the used in construction as replacements for the raw material used. One of these possibilities is the substitution of the cement by slag, which contributes to the reduction of cement consumption, decreasing CO2 emissions, while solving a waste management problem. In the present paper, different types of concrete made by cement substitution with different type of slags have been studied in order to evaluate the properties of these materials. Cement is replaced by slag from different steel mills, both blast furnace and ladle furnace slag. The percentages of slag substitution by cement are 30%, 40% and 50% by weight. Mechanical, physical and environmental properties have been evaluated. Compressive and flexural strength have been analysed as the main mechanical properties. As far as physical properties go, density and porosity tests were be reported and analysed, and from an environmental point of view, a leachate study was performed. It has been found that some kinds of slag (blast furnace slag) are very suitable as substitutes for cement, providing properties above those of the reference concrete, while other types (ladle furnace slag) could be valid for non-structural applications, contributing in both cases to a circular economy.

Effect of Electrolyzed Alkaline-Reduced Water on the Early Strength Development of Cement Mortar Using Blast Furnace Slag

“…Methods have been developed to substitute a portion of cement with industrial by-products, including blast furnace slag (BFS), fly ash, and silica fume, in the hydration reaction mechanism of cement [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. As a concrete binder, mineral admixture is widely used in construction sites because it has many advantages such as increased workability of concrete, improved watertightness, and increased durability.…”

Statistical Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Slag Based Alkali-Activated Material

“…Portland cement contributes to about 5-6% of global CO 2 emission. Search for several alternatives-such as alkali-activated cement, calcium sulphoaluminate cement, etc.-are being made with the advantages of Portland cement [1,2]. In recent years, geopolymer has attracted considerable attention because of its early compressive strength, low permeability, good chemical resistance, and excellent fire resistance behavior [3,4].…”

Advances in the Analysis of Properties Behaviour of Cement-Based Grouts with High Substitution of Cement with Blast Furnace Slags

“…Xiang (2019) incorporated metakaolin [26]. Other studies used GGBS slags as a cement substitute for the design of different concretes [27][28][29].…”