Brazilian steelmakers, including local flats producer Usiminas, are eyeing upcoming sales of steel slag as an aggregate for asphalt, following recent discussions with the government about approving the use of the product.
Brazil’s road construction agency DNIT already approved a norm that sets the specifications for the product, known locally as acobrita, which reportedly has stronger resistance to wear than traditional asphalt materials.
Usiminas estimated the federal road BR 381 project will demand 2 million mt of the product. The road is close to the company’s Ipatinga mill, located in the city of same name in the state of Minas Gerais.
According to Usiminas, which actively joined discussions with the government through DNIT to promote the product, Brazilian steelmakers could soon sell slag as an alternative to natural aggregate, which is currently used in asphalt manufacturing.
Other steelmakers, including Gerdau and ArcelorMittal, along with the country’s steel association, IABr, also joined discussions with the government.
“Usiminas hopes this process will contribute for the approval of the use this byproduct, available at its Cubatao mill by the state environmental agency, Cetesb,” the company said in a statement.
Usiminas also developed its own proprietary product, called Siderbrita TOP, which meets DNIT’s criteria for steel slag as an aggregate for asphalt.