Synthesis and characterization of ladle furnace slag on the mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete

Abstract

The current study examines the use of industrial wastes in the construction industry. Slag from ladle furnaces (Ld) is a solid waste product of the steel industry. Primary and secondary steel-making processes are used in the production of steel from iron or scrap. Ladle furnace slags are steel slags created during the secondary steel-making process. In this study, conventional and self-compacting M25 grade concrete mixtures were made with Ld slag in place of some of the cement. It is also utilised as a filler ingredient in self-compacting concrete (SCC), where the content of Ld slag is 99 kg/m3. In concrete mixtures, Ld slag was used to substitute cement to varying degrees (0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 %, and 30 %). Self-compacting concrete (SCC) was tested for workability in its fresh form as well as for filling, passing, and viscosity. The hardened state of these mixes was also studied, and compressive and split tensile strengths were determined. This slag had its cementitious qualities improved by activating it mechanically for application in concrete mixing. The results show that substitution of up to 10 % of the Ld slag can increase concrete strength, but it also provides good strength that is on par with that of regular concrete. However, when SCC was generated, it provided the best strength of all. SCC can be formed by replacing up to 15 % of the cement with Ld slag and still get the desired results.