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Welcome to the Slag Cement Association 
New Products

SCA Releases New Resources

The SCA has recently released a new Slag Cement in Concrete/Construction (SCIC) information sheet on how to “Reduce Scaling with Slag Cement and Good Concreting Practices” (SCIC No.29) for the building and construction professionals.

The Sustainability of building products and materials is of vital importance when designing new or renovating older structures. The SCA’s acclaimed SCIC information sheets series includes the following documents that show the sustainable attributes of Slag Cement in concrete:

you may download each information sheet by clicking on the title.

  • Updated Member Company Sales Offices- SCA's state-by-state guide to local suppliers of slag cement has been updated.  If you want slag cement, this is the resource to put you in touch with local suppliers!

 
Address/Phone

Please make a note of our address and phone numbers:

Slag Cement Association
38800 Country Club Drive
Farmington Hills MI 48331
Phone: 847-977-6920
Email: info@slagcement.org

 
What is Slag Cement?

Slag cement, or ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), has been used in concrete projects in the United States for over a century. Earlier usage of slag cement in Europe and elsewhere demonstrates that long-term concrete performance is enhanced in many ways. Based on these early experiences, modern designers have found that these improved durability characteristics help further reduce life-cycle costs, lower maintenance costs and makes concrete more sustainable. For more information on how slag cement is manufactured and it enhances the durablity and sustainability of concrete, click here.
News about the effects deicer chemicals have on concrete containing slag cement

“Deicer Scaling Resistance of Concrete Pavements, Bridge Decks, and Other Structures Containing Slag Cement – Phase 1:  Site Selection and Analysis of Field Cores” reported by the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center. To obtain the full report  Deicer Scaling Resistance of Concrete Pavement - bridge Decks and other structures containing slag cement - schlorholtz_deicing_phase1.pdf  

Michigan Tech Transportation Institute has completed a study on “Deleterious Effects of Concentrated Deicing Solutions on Portland Cement Concrete”. In general they concluded that, “concrete mixtures containing 35% slag cement showed the lowest susceptibility to chemical degradation by deicing chemicals”. To read the entire report  misti_tech_brief_1-1.pdf .

The South Dakota DOT research project investigated the effects of concentrated brines of magnesium chloride,

calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and calcium magnesium acetate on portland cement concrete. Their study showed that chemical attack of the hardened cement paste is significantly reduced if supplementary cementitious materials are included in the concrete mixture. Both ground granulated blast furnace slag (slag cement) and fly ash were found to be effective at mitigating the chemical attack caused by the deicers tested. In the tests performed, slag cement performed better as a mitigation strategy as compared to coal fly ash.

To read the full executive study click SD2002-01_Executive_Summary_Final.pdf 

 
Looking for Slag Cement?

If you'd like to know where to get slag cement in your area, click here for a listing of SCA member company sales offies
Project of the month using Slag Cement

A Sustainable Cement / Concrete for Lehigh Cement Plant in Leeds Alabama

Lehigh Hanson, Leeds Alabama, cement plant decision to construct a new three chamber 20,000 MT silo, 240 feet tall with an 80ft diameter along with automatic truck loading. The thought of using C1157 and C989 SLAG Cement and being green, was far from anyone’s mind.  

ASTM C1157 is manufactured under a Performance Specification in contrast to the prescriptive C150 Portland Cement specification. This allows for a target of 10% calcium carbonate (limestone) and a lower CO2 footprint.

 LEED 1 50 a.jpg

 

To give the new silo the longest possible life cycle, SLAG CEMENT was introduced to the concrete design. The concrete proposed for the silo was 60% C1157 and 40% Slag cement with a low water cement ratio. A hundred year durable concrete can be expected with this combination of cementitious materials. The C1157 from Leeds is a Type HE, MS (High Early, Moderate Sulfate) cement.  

All this was proposed to the slip form contractor TEI (T.E. ibberson Company). TEI is an experienced slip form contractor, but had no familiarity with doing a complicated slip form with this combination of cementitious materials. A support team was formed that included the concrete supplier, Sherman Industries, TEI, and Heidelberg Technology Center (HTC), to monitor the concrete performance of the slip.

The results of the first phase of the silo were a successful slip form concrete placement of 1554 cubic yards at an average rate of 11 vertical inches per hour. This rate of placement is considered good for the complexity of the formwork and reinforcing. Hydraulic pump pressures that “jack the slip” formwork were reported to be low normal and the concrete had no tendency for stickiness.

leed silo complete 50.jpg

 

The combination C1157 and C989 hydraulic cements produce a durable, environmentally sound structural concrete with a long service life.

 For previous monthly articles  click here.

 
FAQ's  5 of 17...
What is slag cement (ground granulated blast furnace slag)?
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SCA Mission

The Slag Cement Association (SCA) represents companies that produce and ship over 90 percent of the slag cement (ground granulated blast furnace slag) in the U.S.  The SCA mission  is “To serve as the leading source of knowledge for slag cement and slag blended cements through continuous research, promotion and education. To communicate the performance and environmental benefits of these cementitious materials in the United States through the support and participation of member companies”.