Waste slags as sustainable construction materials: a compressive review on physico mechanical properties

Rapid industrialization and urbanization in emerging nations have resulted in the accumulation of various industrial wastes. As a result, reusing and recycling these wastes into an economical, durable, and environmentally friendly building material may be the most effective means of mitigating their environmental impact. Such wastes are being dumped in greater quantities, which pollute the ecosystem and the land. As a result, its efficient use and management are required, which presents a global issue for its viable recycling and safe disposal. The current review examines the use of various slags, including cupola slag, electric arc furnace slag (EAFS), steel furnace slag (SFS), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) in the development of sustainable construction materials considering the potential of such waste in greener concrete composites towards eco-friendly infrastructure. In order to produce environmentally acceptable construction materials, these waste slags have been used as a partial and full replacement of cement, fine and coarse aggregate with or without supplementary materials ranging from 10 to 60% for cupola slag, 20 to 50% for EAFS, 10 to 50% for GGBFS, and 10 to 30% for SFS are suggested. This review will be an inclusion that helps readers to identify gaps in experimental viability, material characterization, and physico-mechanical behaviour of waste slags, pointing to the potential for application in the production of sustainable building materials.