Life-cycle analysis of cement mortars with ladle furnace steel slag

Abstract

The utilization of ladle slag holds potential for innovative advancements in concrete technology, contributing to the progression of environmentally sustainable and durable construction materials. This research explores the environmental impact of mortars incorporating treated ladle furnace steel slag at cement replacement ratios of 10%, 20%, and 30%. The ladle furnace steel slag was integrated into cement mortars of varying cement types. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using SimaPro software, version 9.3, employing ReCiPe and IPCC 2013 methodologies. The environmental impacts were assessed within the cradle-to-gate system boundaries, considering the grinding process of ladle furnace steel slag. The outcomes were expressed in terms of mid-point indicators. Across all cement types, a discernible reduction in the values of key environmental indicators was observed for the steel slag substitution samples compared to reference samples without cement substitution. Notably, the climate change indicator (GWP – global warming potential) exhibited a reduction of up to 54 g CO2eq per 1 kg of mortar. Grinding the slag to a higher fineness did not result in a significant escalation in the values of the monitored environmental indicators.