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Drew Burns, Slag Cement Association,
discusses the positive
impact of the introduction of slag cement in the production of
concrete.
Introduction
There are an increasing number of products in the
construction marketplace intended to enhance
various concrete characteristics. Professionals strive
to find the right mix of admixtures and materials
to improve the strength, durability, and workability
of concrete. In most environments, these desirable
concrete qualities and more can be achieved with
the use of slag cement, sometimes known as ground
granulated blastfurnace slag. Slag cement has been
used as far back as the 1700s when it was mixed
with lime to make mortars and is now being used in
infrastructure and building projects.
Slag cement background
Slag cement is a hydraulic cement formed when
granulated blastfurnace slag is ground to a suitable
fineness for use as a replacement for portland cement.
It is a byproduct of the Iron industry and in 1996 the
US Environmental Protection Agency designated slag