Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag: Production and Composition

Ground granulated blast-furnace slag
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS or GGBFS) is obtained by quenching molten

iron slag (a by-product of iron and steel-making) from a blast furnace in water or steam, to
produce a glassy, granular product that is then dried and ground into a fine powder.
Contents
[hide]
1Production and composition
2Applications
3How GGBS cement is used
4Architectural and engineering benefits

o
4.1Durability
4.2Appearance
4.3Strength
4.4Sustainability
5Notes
6Literature
7References
Production and composition[edit]

The chemical composition of a slag varies considerably depending on the composition of the raw
materials in the iron production process. Silicate and aluminate impurities from
the ore and coke are combined in theblast furnace with a flux which lowers the viscosity of the
slag. In the case of pig iron production the flux consists mostly of a mixture
of limestone and forsterite or in some cases dolomite. In the blast furnace the slag floats on top of
the iron and is decanted for separation. Slow cooling of slag melts results in an unreactive
crystalline material consisting of an assemblage of Ca-Al-Mg silicates. To obtain a good slag
reactivity or hydraulicity, the slag melt needs to be rapidly cooled or quenched below 800 C in
order to prevent the crystallization of merwinite and melilite. To cool and fragment the slag a
granulation process can be applied in which molten slag is subjected to jet streams of water or air
under pressure. Alternatively, in the pelletization process the liquid slag is partially cooled with
water and subsequently projected into the air by a rotating drum. In order to obtain a suitable
reactivity, the obtained fragments are ground to reach the same fineness as Portland cement.
The main components of blast furnace slag are CaO (30-50%), SiO 2 (28-38%), Al2O3 (8-24%), and
MgO (1-18%). In general increasing the CaO content of the slag results in raised slag basicity and
an increase incompressive strength. The MgO and Al2O3 content show the same trend up to
respectively 10-12% and 14%, beyond which no further improvement can be obtained. Several
compositional ratios or so-called hydraulic indices have been used to correlate slag composition
with hydraulic activity; the latter being mostly expressed as the binder compressive strength.
The glass content of slags suitable for blending with Portland cement typically varies between 90100% and depends on the cooling method and the temperature at which cooling is initiated.
The glass structure of the quenched glass largely depends on the proportions of network-forming
elements such as Si and Al over network-modifiers such as Ca, Mg and to a lesser extent Al.
Increased amounts of network-modifiers lead to higher degrees of network depolymerization and

reactivity.
Common crystalline constituents of blast-furnace slags are merwinite and melilite. Other minor
components which can form during progressive crystallization
are belite, monticellite, rankinite, wollastonite andforsterite. Minor amounts of reduced sulphur are
commonly encountered as oldhamite.[1]
Applications[edit]
GGBS is used to make durable concrete structures in combination with ordinary portland
cement and/or other pozzolanic materials. GGBS has been widely used in Europe, and increasingly
in the United States and in Asia (particularly in Japan and Singapore) for its superiority in concrete
durability, extending the lifespan of buildings from fifty years to a hundred years. [2]
Two major uses of GGBS are in the production of quality-improved slag cement, namely Portland
Blastfurnace cement (PBFC) and high-slag blast-furnace cement (HSBFC), with GGBS content
ranging typically from 30 to 70%; and in the production of ready-mixed or site-batched durable
concrete.
Concrete made with GGBS cement sets more slowly than concrete made with ordinary Portland
cement, depending on the amount of GGBS in the cementitious material, but also continues to
gain strength over a longer period in production conditions. This results in lower heat
of hydration and lower temperature rises, and makes avoiding cold joints easier, but may also
affect construction schedules where quick setting is required.
Use of GGBS significantly reduces the risk of damages caused by alkalisilica reaction (ASR),
provides higher resistance to chloride ingress reducing the risk of reinforcement corrosion
and provides higher resistance to attacks by sulfate and other chemicals.
How GGBS cement is used[edit]

GGBS cement can be added to concrete in the concrete manufacturer's batching plant, along with
Portland cement, aggregates and water. The normal ratios of aggregates and water to
cementitious material in the mix remain unchanged. GGBS is used as a direct replacement for
Portland cement, on a one-to-one basis by weight. Replacement levels for GGBS vary from 30% to
up to 85%. Typically 40 to 50% is used in most instances.
The use of GGBS in addition to Portland cement in concrete in Europe is covered in the concrete
standard EN 206:2013. This standard establishes two categories of additions to concrete along
with ordinary Portland cement: nearly inert additions (Type I) and pozzolanic or latent hydraulic
additions (Type II). GGBS cement falls in the latter category. As GGBS cement is slightly less
expensive than Portland cement, concrete made with GGBS cement will be similarly priced to that
made with ordinary Portland cement.
Architectural and engineering benefits[edit]

Durability[edit]
GGBS cement is routinely specified in concrete to provide protection against both sulphate attack
and chloride attack. GGBS has now effectively replaced sulfate-resisting Portland cement (SRPC)
on the market for sulfate resistance because of its superior performance and greatly reduced cost
compared to SRPC. Most projects in Dublin's Docklands, including Spencer Dock, are using GGBS in
subsurface concrete for sulfate resistance.
To protect against chloride attack, GGBS is used at a replacement level of 50% in concrete.
Instances of chloride attack occur in reinforced concrete in marine environments and in road
bridges where the concrete is exposed to splashing from road de-icing salts. In most NRA projects
in Ireland GGBS is now specified in structural concrete for bridge piers and abutments for
protection against chloride attack. The use of GGBS in such instances will increase the life of the
structure by up to 50% had only Portland cement been used, and precludes the need for more
expensive stainless steel reinforcing.
GGBS is also routinely used to limit the temperature rise in large concrete pours. The more gradual
hydration of GGBS cement generates both lower peak and less total overall heat than Portland
cement. This reduces thermal gradients in the concrete, which prevents the occurrence
of microcracking which can weaken the concrete and reduce its durability, and was used for this
purpose in the construction of the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork.
Appearance[edit]
In contrast to the stony grey of concrete made with Portland cement, the near-white color of GGBS
cement permits architects to achieve a lighter colour for exposed fair-faced concrete finishes, at
no extra cost. To achieve a lighter colour finish, GGBS is usually specified at between 50% to 70%
replacement levels, although levels as high as 85% can be used. GGBS cement also produces a
smoother, more defect free surface, due to the fineness of the GGBS particles. Dirt does not
adhere to GGBS concrete as easily as concrete made with Portland cement, reducing maintenance
costs. GGBS cement prevents the occurrence ofefflorescence, the staining of concrete surfaces
by calcium carbonate deposits. Due to its much lower lime content and lower permeability, GGBS
is effective in preventing efflorescence when used at replacement levels of 50% to 60%.
Strength[edit]
Concrete containing GGBS cement has a higher ultimate strength than concrete made with
Portland cement. It has a higher proportion of the strength-enhancing calcium silicate
hydrates (CSH) than concrete made with Portland cement only, and a reduced content of free lime,
which does not contribute to concrete strength. Concrete made with GGBS continues to gain
strength over time, and has been shown to double its 28-day strength over periods of 10 to 12
years.[citation needed]
Sustainability[edit]
Since GGBS is a by-product of steel manufacturing process, its use in concrete is recognized
by LEED etc. as improving the sustainability of the project and will therefore add points towards
LEED certification. In this respect, GGBS can also be used for superstructure in addition to the
cases where the concrete is in contact with chlorides and sulfates. This is provided that the slower
setting time for casting of the superstructure is justified.

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Ground granulated blast-furnace slag

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS or GGBFS) is obtained by quenching molten

1Production and composition

3How GGBS cement is used

4Architectural and engineering benefits

Production and composition[edit]

Increased amounts of network-modifiers lead to higher degrees of network depolymerization and

How GGBS cement is used[edit]

Architectural and engineering benefits[edit]

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