Application of slags for the production of resource-efficient paving stones

In a recent research project under the lead of the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, gravel and sand within a mixture of paving stones were replaced with LD converter slag and blast furnace slag for 50 wt. % and 100 wt. % to produce resource-efficient concrete components. For this purpose, first, the dry processing of the slags including metal separation and crushing was carried out. In the next step, the particle size distributions of slags using sieve analysis were determined. Finally, the mix designs were set based on the optimum combination of different size fractions of slags. This combination was determined in a way to lead to an almost identical grading curve as that of the original formulation. Splitting tensile strengths of the obtained samples were measured after 14 days of curing under a humidity of 95%. Several paving stone specimens containing slags showed higher splitting tensile strengths than that of the reference sample. Similar results were observed for industrially produced paving stones which demonstrates the successful transfer of the laboratory mixes to the industrial plant.