The Usage of Copper Slag as The Drainage Materials

동 수매 슬래그의 배수용 재료로써의 이용

Copper slag is produced about 700,000 tons annually though copper refining process in Korea. In the paper, a laboratory investigation was carried out to estimate the geotechnical properties of copper slag and examine the feasibility of using the copper slag as a substitute for conventional construction materials and the improvement of the soft clay deposit. The specific gravity of copper slag is 3.45, and pH is 7.83. And the size distribution of the copper slag is well graded, so usage of copper slag will be extended in Geotechnical engineering fields. Copper slag has the permeability of 3.502${\times}$10￣$^2$cm/sec, which is satisfied with the criterion of sand drainage materials.. At the same time, it is thought to be suitable material for sand mat since it meets JIS of grain size distribution. The content of CaO from steel slag is about 40 percent while that of CaO from copper slag is about 5 percent. Based on this fact, copper slag has less hardening property compared to steel slag. Therefore, copper slag can be used as vertical drains, filters, and sand mats for improving the soft deposit.