Steel Slag

DESCRIPTION
Steel Slag is a by-product formed during the steel-making process. It is formed from the
reaction of flux such as calcium oxide with inorganic non-metallic components present in the
steel scrap. It further undergoes a physical process of crushing and separation to produce the
required gradation for further use. The amount of steel slag available for reuse is estimated to
be 0.1 million tons per year.

Figure 4. Conventional granite and steel slag

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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION | A Guide on the Use of Recycled Materials
Table 3 shows the typical chemical properties Some of the physical properties of steel slag
of steel slag. It has a high percentage of are:
oxides of calcium (Ca), silica (Si) and iron
• Good resistance to stripping and high
(Fe).
Polished Stone Value (PSV), thus making
the material superior to natural granite as
Table 3. Chemical Composition of
Steel Slag
road surfacing material.
• Steel slag is hydrophobic in nature (better
Constituent Composition (%)
adhesion with bitumen) while natural
CaO 25-50 granite is generally hydrophilic (has
SiO2 <20 affinity for water). The superior adhesion
of the steel slag with bitumen minimises
FeO 22-35 potential moisture damage of the steel
MnO 6-8 slag mix.
MgO 4-7 • The Flakiness Index, Aggregate Crushing
Value (ACV), Los Angeles Abrasion Value
Al2O3 3-9
(LAAV), soundness, PSV and resistance
to stripping of the steel slag are also
better than granite and comply with
necessary specifications. The typical
values are as shown in Table 4.
• Steel slag fulfills leaching properties of an
environmentally sound material.
• Compared to natural aggregates the
particle density of the steel slag
aggregate is higher by about 20%
(i.e. about 3200 kg/m3).

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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION | A Guide on the Use of Recycled Materials
Table 4. Physical Properties of Steel Slag Road works should generally conform to the
Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s Materials
Parameters Property & Workmanship (M & W) Specification
Water absorption (20 mm) 1.2 % for Civil & Structural Works [2]. Steel slag
can be used as a coarse aggregate for
Water absorption (10 mm) 2.8 %
asphalt pavement if it meets the Technical
Flakiness Index 4 Specifications of LTA.
ACV 26.05
Aggregate Impact Value 17.20 Key Features of Steel Slag
(AIV)
LAAV 9.8 • Has high percentage of oxides of
calcium (Ca), silica (Si) and iron (Fe)
Soundness No disintegration
• Approved for use as coarse aggregate
PSV 56.6%
for asphalt road works
Resistance to stripping No stripping
observed • Good resistance to stripping and high
PSV
• Better than granite in terms of Flakiness
CONDITIONS FOR USE Index, ACV, LAAV, soundness. The
superior adhesion of the steel slag
Steel slag can be beneficially used as road with bitumen minimise potential
surfacing aggregates when it has been moisture damage of the steel slag mix
properly processed. The formulation of
• Density of about 3200 kg/m3
road mixes using steel slag as aggregates
compared to sand and granite of
has shown to give better rut resistance and
about 2600 kg/m3
mechanical stability, thereby making the
wearing course of the road more durable.
Since 1994, 100% of steel slag generated
in Singapore has been fully recycled into
aggregates used in the asphalt mix for the
wearing course of roads.

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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION | A Guide on the Use of Recycled Materials