Effect of Ferronickel Slag Powder on Microhydration Heat, Flow, Compressive Strength, and Drying Shrinkage of Mortar

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of ferronickel slag powder on microhydration heat, flow, compressive strength, and drying shrinkage of mortar. In South Korea, approximately two million tons of ferronickel slag, a by-product of the nickel industry, are produced every year. However, a considerable amount of this by-product is treated as waste and dumped in landfills. Ferronickel slag powder was used to replace Portland cement at a ratio of 15% by binder mass. In addition, the mortar test with other cementitious materials, including blast-furnace slag powder and fly ash, was conducted and compared with the sample containing ferronickel slag powder. According to this investigation, the microhydration heat of mortar and concrete can be reduced with the appropriate use of ferronickel slag powder. In addition, in order to achieve higher concrete compressive strengths, it is apparently advantageous to use the ferronickel slag powder and fly ash together rather than using ferronickel slag powder alone.