Future Use of Misurata City’s Electric Arc Furnace Slag in Construction Buildings

Abstract

Electric Arc Furnace Slag (EAFS), an eco-friendly waste obtained from steel making, serves as the main binder, reduce environmental harm and advance sustainability. The purpose of this research is to provide the findings from the factory in Misurata City, Libya, using EAFS. The percentages of EAFS that can be used to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in the production of chemical mortar are 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 30%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. With a (R=Na₂SiO₃/NaOH) of 0.5, NaOH (NH) concentration of 2, 4, 6, and 8M were used. The ratio of binder (B) to total liquid (TL) is 0.44. Alkaline-activated solutions mortar's (AASM) physical properties, such as its density and spread flow test, have been studied. Compression and flexural behavior strength are also measured after 28 days of drying in plastic sacs at 30°C. The results demonstrate that the optimal ratio may be 15% EAF slag. Since EAFS requires a higher curing temperature than ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), increasing the NH molar 2M-8M enhances fluidity and reduces density, but it also reduces the compressive strength of AASEAFS mortar. The presence of compounds like tricalcium silicate (C3S), tricalcium aluminate (C3A), and calcium aluminate ferrite (C4AF) affected the cementitious properties of the slag. The interactions between the OH^- ions and the Ca²⁺ ions may products Portlandite (Ca(OH)₂) then insufficient calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) or calcium-sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (C-(N)A-S-H) gels, though, because decreased Ca²⁺ ions and Na⁺ ions of EAFS. The mortars' strength and structure are significantly impacted by this effect.