Concretes are artificial stone materials obtained by solidification of a mixed and compacted mixture of binder, water, fine and coarse aggregates taken in a certain proportion. The use of the latter eliminates large shrinkage of cement stone, reduces the consumption of binder, the cost of concrete. In their quality, mainly natural mineral rocks are used, as well as industrial waste. In the production of concrete and products from it, metallurgical slags
are suitable as the main component of cement-free binders, as well as both large and small fillers.
For the manufacture of cement-free concretes, blast furnace slags and similar to them in composition and properties are most suitable.
At present, the production of silicate concrete on the basis of wagon sludge is well mastered. A lime-slag mixture is used as a binder, which is prepared by joint grinding of wagon slag, slaked lime and quartz sand. Gypsum stone or gypsum is introduced as an activating additive. River sand is used as a concrete filler. The concrete mixture consists of one part of lime-slag binder and three parts of sand. There is also a well-known experience in the use of ground granulated wagon slag for the production of cellular concrete with partial replacement of cement and ground quartz sand.
Below are photos of silicate concrete as well as wagon slag
The binding properties of steelmaking slags are less pronounced than those of rolling and blast furnace slags, therefore, there is much less work on their disposal. However, even in this part, the use of open-hearth slags is known as one of the binder components in the manufacture of cinder blocks and hardening bookmarks. Granulated blast furnace slags are also suitable as the latter. The utilization of slags as large and small aggregates of concrete is also well known.
Below are photos of open hearth slag and cinder blocks
In foreign practice, crushed non-granulated blast furnace slag is practiced as a fine aggregate in heat-resistant concrete based on alumina cement. This cinder concrete has a high density density, i.e. it belongs to the number of heavy, has a high resistance to abrasion. It is used for the manufacture of lining elements with a maximum heated surface temperature of 800-1000 ° C. When using slag pumice as fillers, light heat-resistant concretes on alumina cement are obtained. It is also used for the manufacture of light concrete with low thermal conductivity. Granular slags are widely used to partially replace natural sand in the composition of fine-grained concrete in the manufacture of thin-walled reinforced concrete and reinforced cement structures and cinder blocks.
Below are photos of heat-resistant concrete, as well as slag pumice
Steelmaking slags are effective when introduced into asphalt concrete, giving them increased resistance to shock loads in comparison with natural mineral fillers and good fluidity. In addition to concrete, metallurgical slags have found application in the manufacture of other products. They perform the role of thinners in the production of burnt and are a component of the binder in the production of silicate bricks, are used in the production of facing tiles as part of ceramic masses, are used in the cooking of various types of glasses. In smaller volumes, slags are used for the manufacture of non-construction products: abrasive materials for blasting surfaces, granular fillings for filters, fillers and pigments for putties, paints, mastics, linoleum, etc.