Influence of partial replacement of sand with copper slag on the thermal properties of hardened concrete

Abstract

The article presents the results of testing the effect of partial replacement of sand with fine copper slag waste on the thermal properties of hardened concrete. The impact of the replacement on mechanical properties (ie. compressive and tensile strength of concrete) was also investigated. The thermal properties of the concrete were determined using the non-stationary method with the ISOMET 2114 device. Tests were performed on concrete containing three different types of cement (CEM I, CEM II and CEM III). A total cement content of 360 kg/m3 was assumed in the compositions of all concrete mixes with a water-cement ratio of 0.45. Replacing 66% of the sand volume with copper slag waste caused a decrease in thermal conductivity by about 4–8% in relation to the reference concrete. In addition, the compressive strength of concrete containing copper slag increased by about from 4–21% in relation to the reference concrete.