Utilization of ferronickel slag in hot mix asphalt

Abstract The growing concern in minimizing the disorderly disposal of waste in nature has been influencing measures that seek to give new environmentally sustainable and economically viable purposes for these materials. The use of steel slag aggregate in road paving emerges as an alternative for reducing the storage of this material in industrial yards, as well as contributing to a significant reduction in the cost of building a flexible road pavement. This study aimed to verify the technical feasibility of using ferronickel slag as an aggregate in the composition of hot mix asphalt. To this end, physical, chemical, mineralogical and environmental characterization tests of ferronickel slag were performed. The asphalt mixtures were dosed in accordance with the Marshall methodology, using the DNIT Range C with the use of ferronickel slag in the granulometric portions corresponding to the coarse aggregate, fine and filler, and the petroleum asphalt cement (PAC) 50/70. Based on the results, it can be stated that ferronickel slag demonstrates technical feasibility to be used as an aggregate in the composition of hot mix asphalt, meeting the requirements established by Brazilian standardization. In addition, it is an excellent environmental alternative because it uses a material previously treated as an environmental liability, avoiding the exploration of new natural deposits of stone aggregates.