Effect of electric arc furnace dust on the properties of OPC and blended cement concretes

This paper presents results of a study conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties and durability characteristics of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and blended cement (silica fume and fly ash) concrete specimens prepared with electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). Concrete specimens were prepared with and without EAFD. In the silica fume cement concrete, silica fume constituted 8% of the total cementitious material while fly ash cement concrete contained 30% fly ash. EAFD was added as 2% replacement of cement in the OPC concrete and 2% replacement of the total cementitious content in the blended cement concretes. Mechanical properties, such as compressive strength, drying shrinkage, initial and final setting time, and slump retention were determined. The durability characteristics were evaluated by measuring water absorption, chloride permeability, and reinforcement corrosion. The initial and final setting time and slump retention increased due to the incorporation of EAFD in both OPC and blended cement concretes. The drying shrinkage of EAFD cement concrete specimens was more than that of concrete specimens without EAFD. The incorporation of EAFD was beneficial to OPC concrete in terms of strength gain while such a gain was not noted in the blended cement concretes. However, the strength differential between the blended cement concretes with EAFD and the corresponding concretes without EAFD was not that significant. The water absorption and chloride permeability, however, decreased due to the incorporation of EAFD in both the OPC and blended cement concretes. The corrosion resistance of OPC and blended cement concrete specimens increased due to the addition of EAFD.