Slag cement shipments are still on the rise, with 2019 seeing a 10.8% increase over 2018 totals. This marks the fourth consecutive year of double-digit percentage growth in shipping totals across the United States. The Slag Cement Association (SCA) attributes this rise in part to slag’s measurable benefits in concrete, including better workability and finishability, reducing thermal stress, higher compressive and flexural strengths, and improved resistance to aggressive chemicals.
“We have seen a substantial increase in slag cement use as concrete professionals become more and more familiar with the product,” said Ed Griffith, president of SCA. “The SCA is here to be a resource for those in the industry who want to capitalize on the use of slag cement for its durable, sustainable and resilient properties.”
Reducing the carbon impact of concrete is becoming an important factor in construction material choice. Slag cement is a recovered material from the iron production process, and because of this, it reduces the environmental impact of concrete mixtures by decreasing carbon footprint, embodied energy, and the use of non-renewable materials. Additionally, slag cement is very effective in reducing permeability and increasing durability in concrete.
