Slag Cement Use Up

The

use of ground granulated blast-furnace slag in cement reached a record 22.9 million metric tons (25.2 million tons) in 2002, up 22% from 2001, according to the Slag Cement Association (SCA). Blast-furnace slag, a mixture of nonmetallic minerals, is created in the reduction of iron ore to iron. According to SCA, using slag cement in place of a portion of the portland cement in concrete improves workability, strength, and durability, and results in a lighter-colored concrete. SCA is online at

www.slagcement.org.