Vol 20 | Issue 2 | December 2019
| www.asa-inc.org.au
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Image Caption: BluesScope Steelworks in Port Kembla, NSW, Australia.
Another year done and another edition of Connections. We at the ASA hope that you’ve had a successful 2019. The Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association has enjoyed a very busy year. 2019 marked the end of the CRC for Low Carbon Living. The ASA has been intricately involved in delivering evidence-based research to industry, government and the built environment sector for the seven years. Having developed 20 modelling and forecasting tools, completed 150 projects, and published more than 800 papers and reports, many directly informing government policy. This edition features the achievements of the CRC for Low Carbon Living, a 7 year long project, of which the Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association was a partner of. As well as a wrap-up of conferences and events put on by the industry leaders such as the Concrete Institute of Australia and EuroSlag.
TH I S I SS U E
We look at the upcoming events happening overseas. With University of Kentucky Centre for Applied Energy Research’s International Conference on Low Carbon Cement & ConcreteLOWC3 2020- being held in April of next year.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Editorial The Future of the CRC for Low Carbon Living Vale Doug Prosser CONCRETE 2019 Geopolymer Concrete Trial LOW C3 2020 EUROSLAG Slag Utilization in South Korea UOW Slag Concrete Study Concrete Institute of Australia’s Golden Jubilee 2020 Membership Survey Reminder
We also delve into the fascinating exploration happening in South Korea. POSCO, a steel-making company based in Pohang have begun to utilize slag as a fertilizer. As always, we have more significant research from our partners at UOW. They have recently published a paper which looks at the comparisons of the properties of ‘Normal and High Strength Fly Ash Based Geopolymer and Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete Compared to Ordinary Portland Cement Concrete’. The ASA has been involved in a number of recent industry events, with our Executive Director, Craig Heidrich, jetting across the globe to the 10th EuroSlag Conference in Greece, the ACI (American Concrete Institute) Convention and the 101st Annual Meeting of the National Slag Association in the United States. Finally, the Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association would like to thank all readers of Connections for your commitment and support. We are always on the lookout for content for future editions, so if you think you have a relevant story, event or upcoming project, we would love to hear from you!
CONNECTIONS EDITORIAL TEAM | December 2019 Edition
CONTENTS
Editorial
Connections is published by the ASA The Australasian (Iron & Steel) Slag Association Wollongong NSW 2500 Phone: 02 4258 0160 Fax: 02 4258 0169 Email: info@asa-inc.org.au Web: www.asa-inc.org.au Executive Director: Craig Heidrich Editor: Emma Bruce Design: 101 Design Contributors: Dan Webb, UOW, UNSW, Muhammad N.S. Hadi, Craig Heidrich, Nabeel Abed Farhan, University of Kentucky, Gavin Tory, M. Neaz Sheikh Connections is a biannual publication with an online circulation of 1500 copies
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@asa_info
THE FUTURE OF THE CRC FOR
LOW CARBON LIVING For the last 7 years, the Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association has partnered with the CRC for Low Carbon Living. This project was Australia’s leading research and innovation hub dedicated to driving the nation’s built environment sector towards a globally competitive low carbon future. The CRC for Low Carbon Living expects to exceed all of its founding goals in carbon emissions reduction, national economic benefit, education, planning and policy. The CRCLCL has allowed academics the opportunity to undertake end-user-driven research projects, conducting vocational training programs and supervising HDR students. As a network they will generate new initiatives and best practice and encourage low carbon uptake and action in the broader community. UNSW reports that as a result of the increased industry appetite for research developed by the CRCLCL, over 90 urban building experts from business, government, and planning and research institutions have committed to establishing a Future Cities CRC in Round 21 of the CRC Program. The ASA would like to thank all those involved with the CRC for Low Carbon Living. So much has been achieved over the last 7 years and our work will blaze the trail for more important research in the future.
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FOUNDING GOALS
10Mt
CO2e cumulative savings delivered by 2020
7 YEAR RESULTS
12.8Mt
CO2e cumulative savings by 2020 and over 100Mt by 2027
$684m $1.116b in economic benefit delivered to Australia by 2027 Benefit cost ratio of 2.9:1
in economic benefit to Australia by 2027 Benefit cost ratio of 9.5:1
88
52 graduated
higher degree research students graduated
with skills in the low carbon built environment sector
Provide a high quality evidence base for low carbon planning and policy
plus 41 expected to graduate by 2020
Deliver research, tools and evidence to improve planning and policy
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VALE DOUG PROSSER
13.10.1925 - 11.7.2019
It is with deep sadness that the Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association (ASA) has this year lost one of its most influential voices, Doug Prosser, OAM and inaugural Executive Officer of the ASA (1989 - 1998) passed away in July after a short battle with illness. He is survived by his beloved wife Marie. All members past and present offer his family our thoughts and prayers as they progress through life without Doug.
DOUG'S LIFE On leaving school at 15, Doug worked at Port Kembla Steelworks for 11 years. He moved out to an engineering company then to consulting, only to return to the steelworks as site Manager of Specified Concrete. He also worked in a number of corporate roles for the Boral group, including managing slag and quarry product sales. After his retirement from Boral, Doug helped to establish the newly formed Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association (ASA) in late 1989. He was the first Executive Officer and held the position for almost ten (10) years. He was made an honorary life member for his continued dedication and service to the Association long after his official departure. Doug also gave many years service to the Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) Mr Evan Weiner, President Edw. C. Levy Co. said "during the transition in 1989 from Boral to the ASMS for the [BHP Port Kembla] slag handling contract and Doug [Prosser] decided to stay on and help us form, then run, the Australasian Slag Association modelled after the National Slag Association operating in the USA. I will always be grateful for Doug’s kindness, professionalism and persistence about the benefits of slag. Doug will be missed by all, a true gentleman". Doug also served as Chairman of the Lake Illawarra Authority during the many years it took to get the lake reopened to the sea, he received a Life Time Achievement Award for his work with the Authority and was awarded the Order of Australia medal.
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Image Caption: Doug and Marie off on his BSA for an adventure.
Image Caption: Doug with Marie recieving his Hon. Membership to the ASA in 2000.
Image Caption: Doug with David E. Jones and Peter Taylor (then Chair of ther ASA) in 2000.
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CONCRETE 2019 THE 29TH BIENNIAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE CONCRETE INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA WAS HELD AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE IN SYDNEY, NSW. Taking place from 8th of September to 11th of September 2019. The focused theme for Concrete 2019 was: Concrete in Practice –Progress through Knowledge. The Conference began with registrations at 8.00.am with the plenary sessions underway by 9.00.am. The ASA was represented by Dan and Alex who travelled from Wollongong to Sydney early last Monday morning to press the flesh on the ICC Exhibition floor. While our Executive Director, Craig Heidrich, was presenting his first talk of the conference. ASA Chairman, Gavin Tory, was also in attendance. The Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association exhibit was manned during all breakout sessions. Over the duration of the Conference, many domestic and international delegates were keen to ask technical questions in regard to the end uses of the products displayed. The ASA exhibit included displays of sample materials, product/membership information, past editions of connections as well as lollies and the famous USB man. An iPad was used to feature the Association’s website and proved a useful tool in demonstrating to delegates how simple it was to find industry reports, technical documents, member information/details online. The host city of Sydney provided both the international and domestic delegates with an opportunity to admire some of Australia’s most impressive Concrete structures. Three of these – the Sydney Opera House, the Anzac Bridge, and the Gladesville Bridge – formed part of the Concrete 2019 logo.
Conference Highlights included: • 5 keynote speakers • 500+ registrants networking, including 140+ international delegates • 60 exhibiting companies, 13 sponsors • 140 technical papers and presentations The theme of the conference, “Concrete in Practice –Progress through Knowledge” covered topics such as materials, research, design, construction and innovation. The Conference provided a forum for the sharing of ideas and experience through the formal presentations, industry displays and contact between delegates. It was the Concrete industry’s pre-eminent technical and social event in the southern hemisphere for 2019. The technical program was of value to practicing Civil and Structural Engineers, Engineering Academics, Concrete Product Manufacturers, Civil and Building Contractors, Developers, Government Departments (covering Transport, Roads, Railways and Public Works) and Local Government Shires and Councils.
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WORLD FIRST In the first trial of its kind, we’ve taken industrial waste from coal-fired power stations and steel manufacturing to create a new roadway. Working with researchers from the University of NSW, we’ve replaced a section of roadway on Wyndham Street in Alexandria to test the green concrete’s durability. Made from fly ash and blast furnace slag, geopolymer concrete is a sustainable blend of concrete and recycled materials. The City of Sydney is putting the environmentally friendly building product to the test on a busy inner-city street, replacing a 30 metre section of roadway on Wyndham Street in Alexandria. To test the green concrete’s durability, the City has laid 15 metres of traditional concrete and 15 metres of geopolymer concrete, a sustainable blend of concrete and recycled materials. Wyndham Street is a major road leading to Sydney Airport and the high volume of traffic provides perfect conditions for the trial. Nine sensors have been positioned under the concrete to monitor and compare how the geopolymer concrete performs.
UNSW Sydney researchers and the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) will use results from the trial to create the first set of industry guidelines for geopolymer concrete. Our Executive Director, Craig Heidrich, said 'the benefits to our Association in the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living are multifaceted. We anticipate our investment, collaboration with City of Sydney will lead to the publication of our learnings about geopolymer concrete research in the public domain will only further de-mystify and promote the wider specification and use of geopolymer concrete in construction. From an industry perspective the advantages we see for the use of geopolymer concretes relate their; engineering properties, durability, performance, energy reduction and low carbon footprint when used in construction applications'. Mr Heidrich added 'It's a fundamental tenet in business that you need to be constantly innovating and investing into new technologies. The Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living has provided an platform to engage with research organisation, supply chain participants and partner with end user organisations such as Ports NSW and City of Sydney and deliver real examples of geopolymer concrete use'. According to Dr Tommy Wiedmann, Associate Professor of Sustainability Research at UNSW, if all concrete produced in one year was geopolymer instead of traditional concrete, 12,000 kilotons of CO2 would be saved. Geopolymer generates just 300kgs of CO2 per tonne of cement, compared to 900kgs from traditional cement production. The carbon emissions savings is equivalent to the electricity used by an average household every 2 weeks. With 70% of the concrete produced today going into pavements and footpaths, using products like geopolymer concrete for our roads and footpaths has great potential to further lower emissions from our operations. As a major road leading to Sydney Airport, Wyndham Street’s high traffic volume provides the perfect conditions for the trial.
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EUROSLAG 2019 EUROSLAG brings 26 organisations & companies from 16 countries together to focus on the development of ferrous slags and slag-based products at the European level. The biennial event places emphasis on research and technology in the sector, as well as standardisation and internal and external communication. Often attended by the key European influencers of the industry, such as the Fachverband Eisenhüttenschlacken (Technical Association for Ferrous Slag) from Germany and the FEhS -Institute. The FEhS Institute has been one of Europe's leading addresses for research, testing and consulting on ferrous slags, building materials and fertilisers. As a modern service provider, the experts with seven laboratories, the Construction Competence Forum and a network of industry associations, public authorities, standardisation committees, as well as institutions from science and research
3. Research and innovation - characteristics of slag and slag-based products, updated studies, research and demonstration projects, and new techniques.
The 10th instalment of the conference had the pleasure of being hosted by the Laboratory of Building Materials of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Aeiforos S.A., a Thessalonikibased company that specialises in industrial by-products and environmental protection.
EuroSlag 2019 was attended by 130 participants from 29 countries – among them manufacturers and marketers of ferrous slags, representatives from politics, administrative bodies and associations, as well as scientists & academics.
The conference theme of "slag-based products – best practices for circular economy" had a clear & concise message: “the increased use of building materials and fertilisers produced from ferrous slags would further promote the circular economy and conserve more natural resources” – aims that both the UN and the EU are promoting but often seems to fail at the implementation stage because of a variety of political red tape. Nominating this theme was a step in the right direction. There were three key topics of interest at EUROSLAG 2019;
The 10th conference highlighted the fact that the “use of ferrous slag in building materials and fertilisers in Europe is an important building block for economic and ecological management”. However, it is often problematic to create a new consistent framework to cross-promote the increased use of this secondary raw material across the globe. “It is imperative that political decisions at the European level create better pre-conditions so that the great potential of this mineral from the steel industry can be fully exploited," explains Thomas Reiche, Chairman of the Board of EUROSLAG.
1. Legal framework - developments in legislation, rules and standards in Europe and other regions of the World. 2. Utilisation and best practices - sourcing and logistics, best practices for timely and effective recycling and resource efficiency.
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SLAG UTILIZATION IN
SOUTH KOREA POSCO is a South Korean steel-making company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea. They are currently the fourth-largest steelmaker in the world. POSCO have two steel mills that are currently in operation. One in Pohang and Gwangyang and joint-venture based in Pittsburg, California, U.S.A. POSCO as a corporation place importance on three main facets of their business: Business Ethics, Sustainability and Safety & Health Management. With Sustainability taking the spotlight in recent times. POSCO has recently initiated a proactive promotion of eco-friendly siliceous fertilizer made from slag. POSCO Chairman Choi Jeong-woo and 50 employees participated in a volunteer event in Gwangyang, to demonstrate the use of a slag-based fertilizer. "Steelmaking slag is beneficial not only for rice health and growth, but also from economic and environmental perspectives," Choi said. "It can contribute to increasing farm incomes, improving soil quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions." As for the positive environmental impact of the slag fertilizer, the iron ions (Fe3 +) in the fertilizer reduce the methane concentration from the paddy fields by 15-20%. POSCO believes that siliceous slag fertilizer will contribute to the ultimate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 to 1.5 million tons per year. Byproducts produced during the steelmaking process are recycled, which is what makes the fertilizer eco-friendly.
Iron eluted from steelmaking slag also reduces the amount of methane emitted from paddy fields by about the same percentage. POSCO said that processed slag used as fertilizer could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 million metric tons to 1.5 million metric tons annually. Chairman, Choi addressed POSCO's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas and promote cooperation with the agriculture and fishery sectors at the 10th Steelie Awards ceremony hosted by worldsteel in Monterrey, Mexico. By introducing examples of fertilizer from recycled slag and sea forests with artificial reefs, the company received positive feedback from the worldsteel executive committee. To promote "Life Cycle Assessment," POSCO has been pursuing "eco-friendly" businesses with the byproducts from its steel works to minimize waste discharge and reduce carbon emissions. Its trading arm POSCO International has been exporting recycled slag to share the company's "eco-friendly" vision. Meanwhile, the company has also developed slag cement that has a high level of chloride invasion resistance and while reducing hydration heat. Image Caption: POSCO Chairman Choi Jeong-woo, second from right, and employees use the slag, which has been processed to make fertilizer, in paddy fields in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province. Credit: POSCO.
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INVESTIGATION OF ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF NORMAL AND HIGH STRENGTH FLY
ASH BASED GEOPOLYMER AND ALKALI-ACTIVATED SLAG CONCRETE COMPARED TO ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE Nabeel Abed Farhan, M. Neaz Sheikh and Muhammad N. S. Hadi School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia In this paper, fly ash-based geopolymer (FAGP) and alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete are produced by mixing the alkaline solutions with aluminosilicate materials. As the FAGP and AAS concrete are free of Portland cement, they have a low carbon footprint and require low energy during the production process. The engineering properties of normal strength and high strength FAGP and AAS concrete with OPC concrete were compared. In this study, the engineering properties considered include workability, dry density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, flexural strength, direct tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity in compression and direct tension. Microstructural observations using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) are also presented. The test results showed that the workability of FAGP and AAS concrete was higher than the workability of OPC concrete, but the dry density and UPV of FAGP and AAS concrete were lower than those of OPC concrete with similar compressive strength. The tensile strengths of FAGP and AAS concrete were comparable to those of OPC concrete when the compressive strength of concrete was about 35MPa.
Construction and Building Materials 196 (2019) pp. 26-42
AAS Concrete
AAS Concrete
Fresh concrete
Compressive strength specimens
FAGP Concrete
FAGP Concrete
AAS Concrete
Failure mode
FAGP Concrete
However, the tensile strengths of FAGP and AAS concrete were higher than those of OPC concrete when the compressive strength of concrete was about 65MPa. The modulus of elasticity of FAGP and AAS concrete in compression and direct tension was lower than those of OPC concrete of similar compressive strength. The SEM results indicated that the microstructures of FAGP and AAS concrete were more compact and homogeneous than the microstructures of OPC concrete of similar compressive strength at 7 days with the similar compressive strength, but less compact and homogeneous than the microstructures of OPC concrete of similar compressive strength at 28 days. Reference Nabeel Abed Farhan, M. Neaz Sheikh and Muhammad N. S. Hadi School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950061818327508
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Our good friends at the Concrete Institute of Australia will celebrate 50 years in 2020. The Institute was originally formed when members of the Australia Prestressed Concrete Group proposed a change in 1968 where it was resolved to adopt the name Concrete Institute of Australia. This occurred in May 1969 and the first meeting of Council was then held in July 1969 which was chaired by Mr William (Bill) Brown who was elected as the first National President. Following this the Institute was officially registered as a company limited by guarantee with approved Memorandum and Articles of Association on 17th April 1970.
To celebrate this momentous occasion the Concrete Institute of Australia is proud to announce the launch of its Golden Jubilee 50 Year Celebrations that will take place in 2020. A Celebration of Concrete
A nationwide “birthday party� will be held on Friday 17th April 2020 in all the state capital cities. All the birthday party events will be joined together by a national video hook up. During the hook-up, each state will cut a birthday cake, and this will be followed by a sharing of their highlights and acknowledging those people and projects which over the previous 50 years have helped make the Institute the successful organisation it is today across Australia.
Concrete Institute of Australia Medal
During the Golden Jubilee the Institute will recognise those who have made significant contribution to the formation, growth, and development of the Concrete Institute Australia over its first 50 years with the Concrete Institute of Australia medal. The Institute has been blessed to have had so many incredible contributors over its lifetime, but some have gone over and beyond the line of duty. The recipients of this honour will be announced in early 2020, and the medallions will be officially presented at the national symposium to be held later in the year.
National Symposium
To help celebrate the Concrete Institute of Australia’s Golden Jubilee a traveling roadshow will take place in September 2020. The theme of the symposium will be to look to the next 50 years and where concrete should or could go as a building material. Stay tuned to hear about some big name key note presenters from overseas and Australia, who will be joined by local presenters from the research, innovation, design, constructability, sustainability, and material sectors.
Young Member Involvement
Throughout the 50 year celebrations in 2020 the Institute will also include the members who will take the organisation through for the next 50 years. Our young professionals will have opportunities to be involved throughout the year with competitions, seminar participation, committee involvement, and through the National Symposium.
If you would like to contribute you can send any information you may have to CEO, David Millar, by email at history@concreteinstitute.com.au, by post (or in person) to Level 4, 53 Walker Street North Sydney, NSW, 2060, or by phone on (02) 99551744.
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MEMBERSHIP SURVEY REMINDER The Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association (ASA) publishes an annual survey for information regarding iron & steel slag production and sales by members and non-members for each calendar year. The Association publishes an annual membership survey report providing a brief overview and commentary on the statistics and figures returned by our survey participants in regard to their annual production and sales of iron & steel slags. For those companies who have received the membership survey, this needs to be returned ASAP in order for the results to be aggregated and reported. If you are having any trouble completing the survey, please contact the office at (02) 4258 0160 or by email at info@asa-inc.org.au.
WE NEED YOUR CONTENT
Connections is produced twice a year for the benefit of ASA members and before each publication is drafted, an email is sent to all members urging them to contribute their stories. The types of content we are looking for include: New developments or technologies
New projects
New employees
We also have a Member Profile section, which is open to all member companies for contributions on behalf of the business in general, or a specific employee. So if you have an idea or content that you think might make an interesting article, get in contact with the Association today: publications@asa-inc.org.au
SUBSCRIBE TO www.asa-inc.org.au Views expressed in Connections newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Australasian Slag Association. All contributions are welcomed, though the publisher reserves the right to decline or edit for style grammar, length and legal reasons.
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