Technical briefs, research results, and publications stemming from the USDOT Steel Slag Initiative will be regularly uploaded and shared on this page.
Please find the latest project publications listed below. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a glossary of definitions commonly used by the USDOT Steel Slag Initiative.
Tech Brief No. 1:
Steel Slag Aggregate in Asphalt Concrete
Steel Slag Aggregate in Asphalt Concrete
Steel slag aggregates (SSA), a by-product of steelmaking, have been extensively evaluated as substitutes for natural aggregates in asphalt concrete. The properties of SSA depend on the steelmaking process and furnace …
Tech Brief No. 3:
Properties of Slag Types for Concrete Use
Properties of Slag Types for Concrete Use
While the focus of this project is on steel slag it is important to note that steel slag differs from iron slag. Iron slag is commonly used in concrete production and is widely known as ground granulated blast-furnace slag …
Tech Brief No. 4:
Stabilization of Contaminated Soils and Sediments Using Steel Slag
Stabilization of Contaminated Soils and Sediments Using Steel Slag
Steel slag generated from basic oxygen furnaces and electric arc furnaces has been investigated as a viable alternative to portland cement for stabilization/ solidification of contaminated …
Glossary of Definitions
This list contains the standardized terms and definitions used by the USDOT Steel Slag Initiative.
Last Updated: 4/2/2026. For Questions: USDOTsteelslaginitiative@rutgers.edu
| Term | Abbreviation | Definition | Source (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Ground) Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag | (G) GBFS | The glassy, granular material formed when molten blast-furnace slag is rapidly chilled, as by immersion in water. | ASTM CC125-21A |
| Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag | BOFS | Steel slag produced during the conversion of molten iron to steel in a basic oxygen furnace. It is typically rich in calcium, iron oxides, and magnesium-bearing phases. | FHWA-RD-97-148 / ASTM D8021-20 |
| Blast-Furnace Slag | BFS | The nonmetallic product, consisting essentially of silicates and aluminosilicates of calcium and other bases, that is developed in a molten condition simultaneously with iron in a blast furnace. | ASTM CC125-21A |
| Electric Arc Furnace Slag | EAFS | Steel slag produced during steelmaking in an electric arc furnace, typically from scrap-based steel production, consisting primarily of calcium silicates, iron-bearing phases, and magnesium-containing compounds. | ASTM WK95871 / ASTM D8021-20 |
| Ladle Slag | LS | A secondary refining slag generated during ladle metallurgy after primary steelmaking, used to control steel chemistry and remove impurities. | FHWA-RD-97-148 |
| Slag | A nonmetallic byproduct of metal smelting, refining, or steelmaking, consisting primarily of oxides and silicates that separate from the molten metal. | EPA CAS Number 69029-84-1 | |
| Slag Cement | SC | Granulated blast-furnace slag that has been ground to cement fineness, with or without additions, and that is a hydraulic cement. | ASTM CC125-21A |
| Stainless and Specialty Steel Making Slag | Electric arc furnace slag generated during stainless steel or high-alloy steel production. | ASTM D8021-20 | |
| Steel Slag | SS | A non-metallic product, consisting essentially of calcium silicates and ferrites, combined with fused oxides of iron, aluminum, manganese, calcium, and magnesium, which is developed simultaneously with steel in basic oxygen or electric arc furnaces. | FHWA-RD-97-148 / ASTM D8021-20 |
| Steel Slag Aggregate | SSA | Aggregate produced from steel slag that has been processed for use in construction applications derived from basic oxygen furnace slag, electric arc furnace slag, ladle slag, or related steelmaking slags. | FHWA-RD-97-148 |
| Supplementary Cementitious Material | SCM | An inorganic material that contributes to the properties of a cementitious mixture through hydraulic or pozzolanic activity or both. | ASTM CC125-21A |
