JOIN USWith construction works across the State hit by shortage of sand, experts have batted for the use of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS). Slag, is generated as a by-product during the production of steel and is already being used as a replacement to river sand, along with a chemical mixture.
Speaking at a press meet, M C Nataraja, ICI-Concrete Technologist and professor at Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE) said that slag sand was a “very important alternative” to river sand. The Public Works Department has been using it for the construction of roads from the past few years. Slag sand has now been refined and could be used for infrastructure projects too, he said.
G S Suresh professor of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Engineering, said that Slag sand cannot be used directly like conventional sand. “Some chemical mixture is required to stabilise the mortar created using it. Chemical dosage for the same should be fixed in consultation with structural engineers,” he said.
Mohan Kunte, marketing representative of JSW Steel said that it was better than other alternatives such as filtered sand and manufactured sand. Whle the former contains silt in large percentages, the latter contains more dust and cannot be used for plastering, he said.