Research Article Open Access

Utilization Of Steel Slag In Concrete As A Partial Replacement Material for Fine Aggregates

Abstract

As a construction material, concrete is the largest production of all other materials. Aggregates are the important constituents in concrete. They give body to the concrete, reduce shrinkage and effect economy. The increase in demand for the ingredients of concrete is met by partial replacement of materials by the waste materials which is obtained by means of various industries. Slag is a byproduct of metal smelting and hundreds of tons of it are produced every year all over the world in the process of refining metals and making alloys. Like other industrial byproducts, slag actually has many uses, and rarely goes to waste. It appears in concrete, aggregate road materials, as ballast, and is sometimes used as a component of phosphate fertilizer. In appearance, slag looks like a loose collection of aggregate, with lumps of varying sizes. It is also sometimes referred to as cinder, in a reference to its sometimes dark and crumbly appearance. This substance is produced during the smelting process in several ways. Firstly, slag represents undesired impurities in the metals, which float to the top during the smelting process. Secondly, metals start to oxidize as they are smelted, and slag forms a protective crust of oxides on the top of the metal being smelted, protecting the liquid metal underneath. When the metal is smelted to satisfaction, the slag is skimmed from the top and disposed of in a slag heap to age. Aging material is an important part of the process, as it needs to be exposed to the weather and allowed to break down slightly before it can be used. In this experimental investigation an attempt is made to study the effect of partial replacement of fine aggregate by steel slag in the mechanical properties of M20 grade concrete.

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