UPSC Prelims 2020 question on Steel Slag Uses

Statement by statement

Option 1 is correct: Steel slag, a by-product of steel making, is produced during the separation of the molten steel from impurities in steel-making furnaces. One of the ingredients of asphalt is steel slag, a by-product of the steel and iron production processes. Asphalt roads are made of a mixture of aggregates, binders and fillers. The aggregates are typically iron and/or steel slag, sand, gravel or crushed rock, and they are bound together with asphalt itself, which is a bitumen. Hence steel slag is used for construction of base roads.

Option 2 is correct: Steel slags can be used in several activities, such as construction and paving, and also in the agricultural sector due to its ability to correct soil acidity, as it contains some nutrients for the plants and also acts as silicate fertilizer that is capable of providing silicon to the plants.

Option 3 is correct: Steel slag has shown potential for use as a raw mix component up to 10% in the manufacture of cement clinker. Steel slag can also replace granulated blast furnace slag up to 10% in the manufacture of Portland Slag Cement.