The urgency to discover alternatives to Portland cement is evident. In response to this global chal-lenge, steel slags have emerged as a promising alternative. Leveraging Sika's chemistry know-how, steel slag gains wide acceptance as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM).
Steel slag to replace Original Portland Cement
What makes it particularly attractive is the abundant availability of steel slag, with over 180 million tons produced each year. This aligns well with the geographic distribution of Sika's mortar plants, facilitating seamless integration into their formulations.
Until now, steel slag has been underutilized, primarily in soil remediation and road construction. However, with Sika's chemistry expertise, it is now possible to incorporate it into various categories of Sika mortars without any negative on performances, opening new horizons for sustainable construction. Notably, 11 patents have been applied for, indicating Sika's commitment to innovation in this area. The environmental benefits of this shift are substantial. By embracing steel slag-based binder technology, Sika plans to save an estimated 135,000 to 180,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year, horizon 2028.
This projection assumes that 20% to 25% of ceramic tile adhesives transition to this eco-friendly technology. As the world grapples with the pressing need for sustainability, solutions like steel slag-based binders provide a crucial avenue to reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials.