Utilisation of Mining Waste from the Steel Industry, Ladle Furnace Slags, as a Filler in Bituminous Mixtures of Continuous Grading

• Main Authors: Francisco Javier Nebreda-Rodrigo, Juan María Terrones-Saeta, Jorge Suárez-Macías, Evaristo Rafael Moreno-López, Francisco Antonio Corpas-Iglesias, Carmen Martínez-García
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Metals
• Subjects: mining waste; aggregate treatment plants; steel industry; ladle furnace slag; bituminous mixtures; pavements
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/9/1447

Road construction is an activity that involves a large consumption of raw materials, with the consequent high environmental impact. For this reason, various research projects are being developed in which waste is used as a raw material for bituminous mixtures. This avoids the extraction of raw materials, reduces the environmental impact and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In this research, the incorporation of ladle furnace slag as a filler for continuous grading bituminous mixtures was evaluated. Firstly, the ladle furnace slag was chemically and physically characterised and its suitability for use as a filler was determined in accordance with the regulations. Subsequently, bituminous mixtures were conformed with the slag and also with commercial fillers, calcareous and hornfels, in order to compare the results. Finally, the physical properties, Marshall stability and the effect of water were determined with the immersion–compression test on all families of samples. The results showed that the mixes conformed with ladle furnace slag had higher Marshall stability, less variation due to the effect of water and acceptable physical properties. Consequently, the suitability of utilisation of these slags in bituminous mixtures could be confirmed.