Salakanyagot

Salakanyag, or slag material, is a byproduct generated during the smelting and refining of metals. It forms when molten ore constituents separate from the metal and are cooled into solid matter. The chemical makeup depends on the process and ore, but common components include calcium oxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, and iron oxides, along with trace metals. Slag can be produced as glassy, granular material or as crystalline chunks, and it may be processed further for different uses, such as ground granulated slag.

The main sources are blast furnace slag from iron production, steelmaking slag from electric or basic oxygen furnaces, and slags from non-ferrous metal production. Slag is often categorized by its cooling method: air-cooled, granulated (quenched), or ground to a fine powder used as a cementitious material.

In construction and industry, slag is widely reused. Granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) is ground into a hydraulic cementitious material used to replace a portion of Portland cement, improving durability and reducing heat of hydration. Slag aggregates, including crushed slag and basalt-like substitutes, serve as components in concrete and road bases. Slag can also be used for mine backfill, land reclamation, and soil stabilization under appropriate specifications.

Environmental considerations include potential leaching of salts or trace metals, dust, and free lime in certain slag types. Handling, storage, and use are regulated to prevent environmental impact, with standards guiding composition, processing, and end-use performance. Reuse of slag reduces waste, conserves raw materials, and lowers disposal costs when done in compliance with regulations.