High performance concrete with electric arc furnace slag as aggregate: Mechanical and durability properties

•The properties of conventional and EAF concretes are experimentally investigated.•High strength concrete with EAF slag can be produced with relatively high w/c.•The high density of EAF-HSC suggests a potential application as nuclear shielding.•Chloride ingress in the concrete matrix is evaluated through AgNO3 spray tests.•EAF slag use in concrete promotes chlorides diffusion coefficient reduction.

This paper investigates the feasibility of using Black/Oxidizing Electric Arc Furnace slag (EAF) as coarse aggregate to produce High Performance Concrete (HPC). Various experimental mixes have been produced, fully replacing natural coarse aggregates with EAF slag, varying the cement dosages and the water/cement ratios, and they have been characterized through a mechanical and microstructural campaign. For some mixtures also durability has been evaluated, through a study about chloride ingress into concrete matrix. Results indicate that the use of EAF slag improves concrete strength and durability, reaching C60/75 strength class without using any mineral additions and maintaining relatively high water/cement ratio.