Title: 233R-03: Slag Cement in Concrete and Mortar

Author(s): ACI Committee 233

Publication: Technical Documents

Volume:

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 19

Keywords: blast-furnace slag; cementitious material; concrete; granulated blast-furnace slag; hydraulic cement; mixture proportion; mortar; portland cement; slag cement; specification.

DOI:

Date: 3/28/2003

Abstract:

Note: A newer version of this document exists. This document was replaced by 233-17.

Note: 233-03 is only available in PDF format.

Previously, ACI and other standard- and code-writing organizations referred to slag cement as ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS). Throughout the industry, however, the term slag cement has been the more contemporary and commonly used terminology. ACI Committee 233, Ground Slag in Concrete, decided to review the terminology relating to this material. In 2001, the slag cement manufacturers, represented by the Slag Cement Association (SCA), approached the committee and requested a change in terminology from GGBFS to slag cement. The technical merits of the terminology in question, as well as the effect on the industry, have been analyzed and debated. Finding the request from the SCA as appropriate and reasonable, the committee decided to make the change in terminology. ACI Committee 233 and SCA have made similar requests to various ACI and ASTM technical and terminology committees to update or revise their definitions and descriptions of this and related materials. Subsequently, in this document, with the exception of some referenced publications, the term ground granulated blast-furnace slag has been replaced with the term slag cement. The use of iron blast-furnace slag as a constituent in concrete as an aggregate, a cementitious material, or both, is well known. Recent attention has been given to the use of slag cement as a separate cementitious constituent in concrete. This report addresses the use of slag cement as a separate cementitious material added along with portland cement in the production of concrete. This report does not address slags derived from the smelting of materials other than iron ores. The material characteristics described and the recommendations for its use pertain solely to cement ground from granulated iron blast-furnace slag.