The possibility of using copper slag aggregate in concrete

Abstract

Copper slag, produced as a by-product of the pyrometallurgical process of obtaining copper from copper ore in Bor, is disposed as waste in landfills. Despite the favorable physical and mechanical properties of concrete made with copper slag aggregate, such as higher compressive strength (40.8 MPa), higher tensile splitting strength (10.3 MPa), higher pull-off strength (3.1 MPa) and lower water permeability, its use in the construction industry has not been sufficiently investigated. The paper shows the possibility of using copper slag aggregate (CSA) in concrete as a potential replacement for natural river aggregate (RA). As part of the experimental tests, the environmental impact of using CSA as a substitute for RA in the production of mixed concrete was analyzed. The analysis included two concrete mixtures with partial replacement of coarse natural aggregate with copper slag aggregate in three different impact scenarios