Slags from steel production: Properties and their utilization

During steel production a considerable amount of slags is produced. In addition to its usual processing, as recycling in device for steel production and preparation of aggregates, it is also possible to apply less common slag processing ways. Depending on cooling mode of the steel slags these may show some binding properties. Geopolymer type binders can be prepared from the slag using alkali activators or the hydraulic properties of the dicalciumsilicate present in the slag can be induced by water. The paper summarizes present state of material utilisation of the steel slags with focus on emphasize of the possible sources of the slag volume instability. The influence of process of slag cooling on its phase composition is documented. It was also found that slags from real sources show different parameters compared to samples obtained for laboratory examination.