Cement, Energy and Environment

17 Energy Optimizing Furnace Slag (EOF)- A Potential Supplementary Cementitious Material for Portland Blended Cement with Improved Properties Dr Jagabandhu Kole, Senior Vice President & Head R & D, JSW Cement Limited ABSTRACT CO 2 emission is a common cause of concern for the entire cement sector. This makes the blended cement with lower clinker factor, more significant. On the other hand, energy optimizing furnace slag (EOF Slag), being a byproduct of steel industries draws the concern of waste management and pollution. Despite being mineralogically rich, the EOF slag is almost untouched and has not been explored for a significant scope of recyclability. Herein the mineralogy and microstructure of EOF slaghavebeen studiedwithdifferent sophisticated analytical techniques including optical polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. This experimental investigation has found the EOF slag as a potential supplementary cementitious material (SCM) tomake blended cement. Different compositions of Portland slag cement (PSC) have been made by using the processed and ground EOF slag. Different performance parameters of the developed cement have been evaluated to find the suitability of EOF slag in cement as well as for optimization of its dosage. The reactivity of the EOF slag in cement hydration has been analyzed by correlating the quantitative XRD data, Heat of Hydration of the developed cement, and derived physical parameters. It has been found that ground EOF slag (GEOFS) is a potential supplementary material for Portland slag Cement (PSC) with the 2.5 to 7.5 % replacement of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS, a proven SCM as well as a mineral admixture). Further, the application of the developed blended cement has been validated with the concrete trial. Overall this work has addressed two global concerns of industrial sectors like recyclability of industrial waste materials and the development of a new SCM to reduce the clinker factor in cement for the reduction of the carbon footprint of cement.