Assessment of Reusing Ferrochrome Slag Wastes in Mortar as SCMs

Abstract

The demand for alternative cementitious materials is on the rise, as the cement causes huge energy consumption and produces greenhouse gas emission. Additionally, there is economic potential for the construction industry to reuse wastes as supplementary building materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of utilizing ferrochrome slag wastes in mortar as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), thereby achieving this double-sided goal. Thus, the mechanical and physical properties of ferrochrome slag wastes were investigated to be used as admixtures in concrete production. Three different cement mortar specimens were prepared by replacing cement with ferrochrome slag in ratios of 0, 30%, and 60% by mass and flexural and compressive strengths of the specimens were determined at the ages of 7, 28, 56, 90, and 180 days. Also, the effects of the ferrochrome slag replacement ratio on workability, setting time and volume expansion were revealed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were also investigated to study the microstructural properties of the specimens containing ferrochrome slag. Based on the results, it is concluded that ferrochrome slag wastes have pozzolanic activity, therefore reusing them as SCMs in the cement and concrete industry is convenient.

Keywords

recycling / reuse of materials / ferrochrome slags / pozzolanic activity / physical and mechanical properties / concrete technology