Steel Furnace Slags have been used for soil stabilization, on paving projects, in a number of countries over the years. The primary applications are the stabilization of existing secondary roads and stabilizing the sub base under new construction.

The secondary road process relies on both the highly angular particle shape of these materials as well as any free lime that may be available to bond with the clay material within the soil. Typically this application utilizes a fine steel furnace slag in the 5/8” X 0 size range. Currently there are several projects of this type underway in southeastern Michigan as well as a research project at Purdue University in Indiana. This process allows for better access to these roads during the wet spring season as well as improving the potential for future paving.

The other form of stabilization truly treats the soil prior to the construction of new roadways. This application has been extensively used in both Europe and Australia. It entails utilization of the free lime available in some steel slags. The slag is typically ground into a fine powder and then blended with a granulated slag blast furnace slag, sometimes utilizing a chemical activator, or with just the soil depending upon the requirements of the project. This form of stabilization typically provides a high level of strength to the pavements base.

Both of these methods are examples of how Levy evaluates the materials physical characteristics and then determines an optimum utilization.