Blast furnace slag is a by-product of the metallurgical industry and is obtained in the process of smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. It is an interpretation residue in the form of frit or granules, which is rich in calcium, aluminum and silica. The important features of blast furnace slag are that it is completely environment friendly and economically advantageous.
First of all, the blast furnace slag has proven to be environment friendly due to its inert chemical properties. It does not leach and has tested inert against nitric acid. It is non-hazardous and therefore it is classified as a LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE MATERIAL for most waste management purposes. This blast furnace slag is also beneficial for the environment due to its high energy efficiency in the production process. By reusing the slag instead of disposing it, the energy consumed by the blast furnace is significantly reduced, thus resulting in significant savings of energy.
In addition, blast furnace slag has proved to be very economical in comparison to the other materials that are used in manufacturing and construction. It is particularly economical when used as road construction material. It is cheaper than other traditional materials such as asphalt and concrete and also has longevity advantages over them. Its long life span and durability mean that less maintenance is required compared to the other materials.
The blast furnace slag also has numerous other uses in construction and engineering. It can be used for a variety of purposes, including structural fill material, asphalt aggregate and lightweight aggregate for concrete and masonry. The lightweight aggregate is particularly useful for obtaining the lower densities needed for lightweight concrete and other lighter structures. The blast furnace slag can also be used as a raw material in making glass and ceramic products and as an abrasive for various grinding operations.
Blast furnace slag may also be of great use to agricultural industry, as it provides a sustainable and economic source of valuable micro-nutrients for improving soil fertility and plant nutrition. As an additive to reconstituted soils, blast furnace slag can be used to release nutrients essential to plant growth such as silicon, aluminum, calcium and titanium.
In conclusion, blast furnace slag has shown itself to be an environmentally friendly and economically advantageous alternative to regular construction materials and agricultural fertilizers. It has numerous uses in manufacturing and engineering and its application in agricultural industry could prove very beneficial in improving soil fertility and plant nutrition. Furthermore, its use in place of regular construction materials results in huge energy savings. It has thus been rightly classified as a LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE MATERIAL and used in large scale in the production and construction of various items.
