Reuse of Electric Arc Furnace Slag as Filler for Nitrile Butadiene Rubber

Giovanna Cornacchia,Giorgio Ramorino,Anna Gobetti

doi:10.1007/s11837-021-05135-6

Abstract

This work shows an innovative application for electric arc furnace (EAF) slag: its use as a filler for nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). Composites with various EAF slag contents were tested. It was found that the polymer matrix significantly reduces the leaching of slag (determined according to the standard CEN-EN 12457-2) incorporated in the NBR. The processability characteristics determined by the rheometric curves highlight that the EAF slag accelerates the crosslinking kinetics, reducing the production cycle time. Mechanical characterization demonstrated that EAF slag increases hardness and compression modulus. The ability to recover an imposed deformation quantified by the compression set is reduced as the EAF slag amount increases but remains below an acceptable value. It can be stated that in sealing systems, the EAF slag as a filler for NBR positively affects the compound properties. Moreover, NBR filled with EAF slag also has magnetic properties compared with standard rubber.

Highlights

Since the industrial revolution, our economies have developed a ‘‘take, make, consume and dispose of’’ growth model—a linear model based on the assumption that resources are abundant, available, and cheap to dispose of
nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) filled with electric arc furnace (EAF) slag has magnetic properties compared with standard rubber
This study aims to evaluate the technical characteristics of an NBR filled with EAF slag to define the possible applications

Summary

Introduction

Our economies have developed a ‘‘take, make, consume and dispose of’’ growth model—a linear model based on the assumption that resources are abundant, available, and cheap to dispose of. The circular economy aims to maintain the added value in products for as long as possible while minimizing waste[1,2] or turning waste into a resource as part of ‘closing the loop’.3. In this context, industrial symbiosis is the process by which wastes or by-products of an industrial process become the raw materials for another sector.[4,5,6] The application of this concept allows materials to be used in different sustainable ways and contributes to the creation of a circular economy. Through a territorial (Received June 10, 2021; accepted December 26, 2021)

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