Scientists from the Crimean Federal University (CFU) have developed a technology for producing super-strong building materials from metallurgical waste and quarry sludge. This will allow for the recycling of millions of tons of hazardous waste and minimize production costs.
In Russia, there are over 500 million tons of metallurgical slag accumulated, requiring processing. Researchers from CFU studied 12 samples of slag from five enterprises and created a technology for manufacturing construction materials.
CFU Vice-Rector Nikolay Lyubomirsky explained that the obtained pavement tiles consist solely of waste and carbon dioxide, reaching a strength of one thousand kilograms per square centimeter. From waste from the Crimean soda plant, they produced bricks comparable in strength to clinker ones thanks to artificial carbonization.
The new materials are highly durable and frost-resistant, resistant to acids and temperature fluctuations, and their cost is significantly lower than that of cement analogs. Scientists from CFU have already begun patenting a carbonization chamber for the rapid production of building materials.
Additionally, researchers have developed cement from quarry sludge at the request of a gravel mining company. They created cement from clayey waste accumulated over 30 years. Alexander Bakhtin, Deputy Director of the Academy of Construction at CFU, noted that the cement created has high strength and is much cheaper than traditional cement.
In the near future, the creation of an industrial plant for mass production of innovative building materials is planned.
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