GGBFS

Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

COST EFFECTIVE, SUSTAINABLE, STRONG, DURABLE

Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (“GGBFS”) is a steel industry by-product that partially replaces Portland Cement in concrete mixes.

It is hydraulic cement produced during the reduction of iron ore to steel in a blast furnace. The slag is rapidly quenched with water, “granulated,” dried and ground to a fine powder with cementitious properties.

COST EFFECTIVE: producers can use less cement at a lower cost (~5% less volume) to meet strength targets

STRONG: increased flexibility and tensile strength allows for thinner sections; lower heat generation reduces thermal stress and cracking

DURABLE: reduced permeability means less erosion; mitigates breakdown of Portland Cement corrosion

LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: using a by-product of the steel industry that would otherwise be a waste product

• Less energy used in production
• Less mineral extraction required
• Less associated waste disposal
• Lower CO₂ emissions

LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT

Since GGBFS is a by-product of steel manufacturing process, its use in concrete is recognized by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) etc. as improving the sustainability of the project and will therefore add points towards LEED certification. The production of GGBFS generates very low CO2 emissions, and zero emissions of other pollutants.

Proof of concept is the accreditation of BPIM’s GGBFS with CALTRANS.