SLAG CEMENT

USE IN
Agenda
• Benefits of Slag
• Conditions in Ontario
• Usage Considerations
• Project Highlights

Mike Stanzel, Essroc Italcementi Group

Bo Ni and Kevin Chevrier, Essroc Readymix
Slag Cement
• Non-metallic byproduct of iron
smelting
• Silicates and aluminum silicates of calcium
• Glassy, sand-like, finely ground

• Supplementary Cementitious Material

(SCM)
• Hydraulic
• Pozzolanic
Benefits of Slag Cement
• Energy and Environmental Conservation
• Virgin raw material extraction / landfill
• CO2 (and other) emissions from clinkering

• Fresh / Plastic Concrete Properties

• Workability, finishing, segregation, pumping
• Setting time extension

• Hardened Concrete Properties

• Reduced early strength, improved late age strength
• Reduced heat evolution
• Improved permeability and resistance to chloride
penetration, sulphate attack, ASR, etc.
• Predictability & Compatability
Conditions in Ontario
Wide variety in climatic conditions:
• Spring: Rainy or dry,
moderate daytime
temperatures, cool
nights.
• Summer: Hot and humid
with temperatures
reaching over 30oC (86oF).
• Autumn: Rainy or dry,
moderate daytime
temperatures, cool
nights.
• Winter: Cold and snowy
with temperatures
dropping below -30oC (- Source: Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 (Ottawa City)

22oF) and harsh winds.

Usage Considerations
• SCMs are used in 60-80% of concrete produced in Ontario
• Slag is the predominant SCM due to market availability and preference
• Typical mixes 25% to 35% replacement
• May be higher for special conditions (low heat mass concrete, sulfate resistance, etc.)
• Adjusted based on ambient temperatures
Usage Considerations
• W/Cm ratio still applies for exposure classifications
• Most often the governing requirement in this market
• Strength development depends on slag reactivity and cement
characteristics
• 1-day strength estimate – reduce by slag replacement percentage (pure w/c ratio)
• Later age strengths can be estimated based on past performance or gel-space modelling

* Typical Grade 100 Slag with typical T-GU Portland cement

Usage Considerations
• Significant improvement to sulphate resistance
• General practice in Ontario is 35% replacement for moderate sulphate
resistance, 50% for high sulphate resistance, considering concrete
exposure classification requirements, cement type, etc.
• For Portland Limestone cements, S – class exposures at maximum 0.40 w/c
with minimum 40% slag (CSA A23.1-14 Table 3)

* Testing conducted by Davroc Laboratory, 2013

Usage Considerations
• Heat Evolution
• Slag heat of hydration approximately 50% of Portland Cement
• Peak temperature gain of approximately 0.12oC per kg of cement (0.06oC per kg slag)
• Mass concrete typically 50% - 65% slag replacement (70% max in CSA A3000)

• Setting Time
• Generally minimal impact over 15oC (60oF) approximately 30-60 minutes, but
more pronounced under 15oC
• Reduce replacement level or use of accelerator (depending on specifications) as
temperature decreases (and field feedback is received), plus heated mix water and
materials.
• Proper ACI Cold Weather Practices essential.
Usage Considerations
• ASR Mitigation
• Some pockets of reactive aggregates
• CSA A23.2-27A Standard practice to identify degree of alkali-reactivity of
aggregates and to identify measures to avoid deleterious expansion in concrete

* 14-day Testing conducted by Stantec Laboratory, 2015

Usage Considerations
• Chloride Permeability / Resistivity
• Significant improvement to rapid chloride permeability
• With reactions happening later, new CSH subdivides and blocks initial pore system

• Salt Scaling
• Typically 25% maximum replacement for sidewalk, driveway, etc. (0.45 w/c, air entrained)
• Level adjusted with temperature/weather to account for curing requirements
Usage Considerations
• Special Considerations for High Volume SCM
replacement
• HVSCM-1 (FA/40 + S/50 > 1) -> 50% slag or more
• HVSCM-2 (FA/30 + S/40 >1) -> 40-50% slag
• Carbonation (reinforced concrete exposed to air with depth of cover <50mm)
• Max 0.40 w/c for HVSCM-1, 0.45 w/c for HVSCM-2 (CSA A23.1-14)
• Minimise risk of corrosion of embedded steel due to carbonation of concrete
cover
• Max 0.40 w/c for C2 exposure class with HVSCM-1
• Strength acceptance age for HVSCM concrete can sometimes be
increased from the typical 28 days to 56 days or possibly 91 days.
Usage Considerations
• Special Considerations for HVSCM
• Extended curing due to slower strength development
• C1, F1, S1, S2: Curing regime 3 for HVSCM-1
• A3, A4, C3, C4, F2, S3: Curing regime 2 for HVSCM-1 and HVSCM-2
• Otherwise the same as normal concrete

• Note: Methods of
protecting concrete from
evapouration of surface
moisture are important
• Fog spraying and
evapouration retardants
are particularly effective
Ontario Projects
Bayshore Shopping Centre Redeveloped Parking Garage, Ottawa, ON (2011 - present)

Mix Design 35-C1 mix

• 40% Type-GUL, 60% Grade 100 Slag
Total Volume ~ 64,000 m3 • 40mm stone
• 35 MPa with C1 exposure class RCP 885 Coulombs
• LH requirement, <0.04% Linear 28-day Strength > 40 Mpa (5.8 ksi)
Shrinkage, Salt Scaling Max Temp Diff < 20oC
• 3’ thick raft slabs Shrinkage < 0.040%
 Ontario Projects
MacDonald Cartier Inter-provincial Bridge, Ottawa, ON (2014-2015)

Mix Design GUb-S-SF blend

RCP 828 Coulombs
28-day Strength 40-60 MPa (5.8-8.7 ksi)
Total Volume ~ 4,000 m3 Salt Scaling < 0.040%
• 35-50 MPa (5.0-7.2 ksi) SCC mixes • 30% of concrete delivered at night due to
• C1 and C-XL exposure class traffic constraints.
• < 0.60% Alkali, Salt Scaling requirements • All work ceased Jan-April due to weather
 Ontario Projects
Pont des Allumettes Inter-provincial Bridge, Pembroke, ON (2014-2015)

Mix design GUb-S-SF blend

Total Volume ~ 3,000 m3 RCP 317 & 560 Coulombs
• 35-50 MPa (5.0-7.2 ksi) SCC mixes 28-day Strength 46 - 70 Mpa (6.6 & 10 ksi)
• C1 and C-XL exposure class Choride ion content 0.082%
• < 0.60% Alkali, Salt Scaling requirements Salt Scaling < 0.040%
Ontario Projects
Chinese Embassy Addition, Ottawa, ON (2015 – present)

Mix Design 35-C1 mix

Total Volume ~ 6,000 m3 • 60% Type-GUL, 40% Grade 100 Slag
• 35 MPa (5.0 ksi) • 40mm stone
• C1 exposure class RCP 987 Coulombs
• LH requirement, Low shrink 28-day Strength 44.3 Mpa (6.4 ksi)
• 3’ thick raft slabs Shrinkage < 0.04%
Ontario Projects
Parliament Hill – West Block Rehabilitation, Ottawa, ON (2011 – 2017)

Total Volume ~ 10,000 m3 Mix Designs

• 20 - 35 MPa (3.0 - 5.0 ksi) • 20% to 40% slag replacement
• SCC, Shotcrete, Low-shrink, • GUL, GUb-SF cements
Waterproofed, High early, set- • Tests on AVS, RCP, Shrinkage,
accelerated compressive strength
 Ontario Projects
Metrolinx - GO Transit Bus Maintenance & Storage Facility, Hamilton, ON (2015-2016)

Mix Design 32-C2 mix (paving), SCC (precast)

• 60% T-GUL and 40% Gr. 100 Slag, 20mm stone
• 85% T-HE and 15% Gr. 100 Slag, 13mm stone
• Total Volume ~ 5,000 m3 28-day Strength 42.5 Mpa (6.1 ksi)
• LEED® Gold certification Salt Scaling < 0.040%
• 32 MPa (4.6 ksi) with C2 exposure class 16-h Strength (precast) >4000 psi
 Ontario Projects
Kitchener Public Library, Kitchener, ON (2012 – 2014)

• Total Volume 12,000 m3 Mix Design 35-C1 mix

• 35 MPa (5.0 ksi) • 40% Type-GUL and 60% Gr. 100 Slag
• C1 exposure class • 20 mm stone
• LEED® Silver certification RCP < 1000 Coulombs
• RCP, Salt Scaling requirements, Corrosion 28-day Strength > 40 Mpa (5.8 ksi)
Inhibitor, low shrinkage Shrinkage < 0.040%
 Questions?
• Summary
• Environmental benefits
• Enhanced concrete performance
due to denser hydration product
matrix
• Primary SCM in Ontario
• Predictable performance
• Must consider early age requirements, curing, weather
conditions, etc.