Characteristics and cementitious properties of ladle slag fines from steel production

Ladle slag is a by-product from further refining molten steel after coming out of a basic oxygen furnace (BOF) or an electric arc furnace (EAF). Air-cooled ladle slag has a very large portion of fine particles due to the conversion of β-C₂S to γ-C₂S during the cooling process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of three ladle slag fine samples passing 100, 200 and 325 mesh indicates that the major mineral in ladle slag fines is γ-C₂S, which does not show cementitious property in water. Experimental results have indicated that ladle slag fines show significant cementitious property in the presence of an alkaline activator. The finer the ladle slag is, the better the cementitious property of the slag is.