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2019 | Vol 2 | Issue 3 

CONCRETE STRENGTH PROPERTIES BY SUBSTITUTING COPPER SLAG 

FOR SOME OF THE FINE AGGREGATE 

 
1
Y. Sombabu, 

2
P. Prudhvi, 

3
J. Nagarjuna, 

4
V. Sai Manikanta, & 

5
 G. Rohith Kumar 

1
 Assistant Professor, 

2,3,4
 
&

 
5
 IV year Students, Civil Engineering Department, Sree Vahini 

Institute of Science and Technology, Tiruvuru 

 

ABSTRACT 

There has been a rise in the usage and manufacturing of concrete in recent decades. 

Concrete's three primary constituents and production method are major contributors to 

greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, M25 grade concrete was employed, and experiments 

were performed using varying percentages of copper slag in lieu of sand. Weight-based mix 

designs are created by substituting varying amounts of copper slag for sand (0%, 20%, 40%, 

60%, and 80%) in the concrete batching process. After 24 hours, the cube, beam, and cylinder 

specimens will be cured and ready to be prepared and demoulded. At 7, 14, and 28 days, we 

will conduct compression, split tensile strength, and flexural tests on the specimens. 

Keywords: Workability, Compressive Strength, Fine Aggregates, Flexural Strength, Split 

Tensile Strength, and Copper Slag 

 

 

1.0.INTRODUCTION: 

In India, by-products and 

waste materials are being generated 

by various types of industries. 

Disposal of waste materials effects 

the environment in various zones. 

Therefore, these waste materials can 

be recycled and it is great potential 

in construction industry. Many 

researchers found that concrete 

made with wastes and by-products 

like fly ash, silica fume, copper slag 

etc acquires excellent properties 

than the conventional concrete in 

terms of strength, performance and 

durability. Hence, in this project, 

copper slag is taken to investigate 

its suitability as a replacement 

material for fine aggregate while 

making concrete. Copper slag is an 

industrial by-product material 

produced during the smelting and 

refining process of copper, which 

can be used for a surprising number 

of applications in the construction 

field. It is also having similar 

physical properties of sand, 

considered as an alternative material 

to the river sand. It is the waste 

product material of copper. Disposal 

of this waste causes environmental 

pollution. The construction field is 

the only area where the safe use of 

waste material like copper slag is 

possible. When it is taken as a 

replacement material in concrete, it 

lessens the environmental pollution, 

space problem and also lessens the 

cost of concrete. 

1.1 BACK GROUND OF COPPER SLAG: 

Copper slag is a by-product 

of copper extraction by smelting. 

During smelting, impurities become 

slag which floats on the molten 

metal. Slag that is quenched in water 

produces angular granules which are 

disposed of as waste or utilized as 

discussed below. 

Copper slag is mainly used 

for surface blast-cleaning. Abrasive 

blasting is used to clean and shape 

the surface of metal, stone, concrete 

and other materials. In this process, 

a stream of abrasive grains called 

grit is propelled toward the work 

piece. Copper slag is just one of 

many different materials that may be 

used as abrasive grit. Rate of grit 

consumption, amount of dust 

generated, and surface finish quality 

are some of the variables affected by 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrasive_blasting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrasive_blasting


 

 

copper slag can be utilized in concrete to act as fine aggregate. The copper slag in the 

granular form is utilized now as a sand blaster in finishing metal surfaces. But only 15 to 20% 

of the copper slag produced alone is being used. Some of it used for land filling leaving the 

rest unused causing environmental pollution. These fine granules of copper slag are similar to 

sand grains and hence can be used in concrete as a replacement of fine aggregate. The use of 

copper slag in concrete provides potential environmental as well as economic benefits for all 

related industries, particularly in areas where a considerable amount of copper slag is 

produced. This innovative material (copper slag) which is an industrial waste product, if 

effectively utilized, will reduce not only sand mining but also environmental pollution 

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 

R R Chavan & D B Kulkarni (2013) conducted experimental investigations to study the 

effect of using copper slag as a replacement of fine aggregate on the strength properties and 

concluded that Maximum Compressive strength of concrete increased by 55% at 40% 

replacement of fine aggregate by copper slag and flexural strength increased by 14 % for 40 

% replacement. Many researchers have investigated worldwide on the possible use of copper 

slag as a concrete aggregate. Some of the important and published works are reviewed and 

presented briefly below. investigated the mechanical properties of high strength concrete 

replacing fine aggregate with copper slag. Micro silica was used to supplement the 

cementitious content in the mix for high strength requirement. They observed that when 

copper slag was used to replace fine aggregate, upto 40% copper slag replacement, the 

strength of concrete was increases while the surface water absorption decreases. They also 

observed that when more than 40% of copper slag is used, the microstructure of concrete 

contains more voids, micro cracks, and capillary channels which accelerate the damage of 

concrete during loading. 

Al-Jabri et al (2009, 2011) investigated the performance of high strength concrete made with 

copper slag as a replacement for fine aggregate at constant workability and studied the effect 

of super plasticizer addition on the properties of High Strength Concrete made with copper 

slag. They observed that the water demand reduced by about 22% for 100% copper slag 

replacement. The strength and durability of High Strength Concrete improved with the 

increase in the content of copper slag of up to 50%. However, further additions of copper slag 

caused reduction in the strength due to increase in the free water content in the mix. Also, the 

strength and durability characteristics of High Strength Concrete were adversely affected by 

the absence of the super plasticizer from the concrete paste despite the improvement in the 

concrete strength with the increase of copper content. The test results also show that there is a 

slight increase in the density of nearly 5% with the increase of copper slag content, whereas 

the workability increased rapidly with increase in copper slag percentage. 

Caijun Shi et al (2008) reviewed the effect of copper slag on the Engineering properties of 

cement mortars and concrete. They reported that the utilization of copper slag in cement 

mortar and concrete is very effective and beneficial for all related industries, particularly in 

areas where a considerable amount of copper slag is produced. It proved both environmental 

as well as technical benefits. They observed that there was more than 70% improvement in 

the compressive strength of mortars with 50% copper slag substitution. 

3.0 METHODOLOGY 

Table 1: Physical properties of cement 

S. No Property Test results 

1 Normal consistency 30% 

2 Specific gravity 3.1 

3 Initial setting time 34 minutes 

4 Final setting time 465 minutes 



 

 

 
 

Water: Cement: F.A.: C.A. = 0.5: 1: 1.65: 2.67 

 

Table 2: Physical properties of fine aggregate 

S. No Property Value 

1 Specific gravity 2.46 

2 Fineness modulus 4.91 

3 Bulk density: 

Loose 

Compacted 

 

14kN/m
3
 

15kN/m
3
 

4 Grading Zone-I 

Table 3: Physical properties of coarse aggregate 

S. No Property Value 

1 Specific gravity 2.65 

2 Fineness modulus 4.911 

3 Bulk density 

Loose 

Compacted 

14 kN/m
3
 

16 kN/m
3
 

4 Nominal maximum size 20 mm 

Table 4: Physical properties of water 

S. No Property Value 

1 PH 7.1 

2 Taste Agreeable 

3 Appearance Clear 

4 Turbidity(NT units) 1.75 

4.0 MIX DESIGN 

M25 grade of concrete is designed in accordance with the guidelines of code book IS 

10262:2009 with replacement of fine aggregate by copper slag. The mix proportion obtained 

is 1:1.65:2.67 (C: FA:CA) with water cement ratio of 0.50. Copper slag is added at varying 

percentages of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% by replacing fine aggregate. The compressive 

strength specimens are casted and cured in water for 7days and 28 days. The split tensile 

strength and flexural strength specimens are casted and cured in water for 28 days. After 

curing, they are tested for their respective strengths. 

5.0 SPECIMEN SIZES: 

 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm cubes were cast for compression test with replacement 

0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% replacement of copper slag. The specimens 

were demoulded after 24 hours and tested for 7 days, 14 days and 28 days of curing. 

 150 mm x 300 mm cylinders were cast for split tensile test with replacement of 0%, 

20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%replacement of copper slag. The specimens were 

demoulded after 24 hours and tested for 7 days, 14 days and 28 days of curing. 

 Beam mould of size 15 x 15x 70 cm (when size of aggregate is less than 38 mm) or of 

size 10 x 10 x 50 cm (when size of aggregate is less than 19 mm) 



 

 

Slump value in mm 
140 

120 
124 

115 
110 

100 102 
95 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

Slump value in mm 

 

 

6.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 

Slump Cone Test Results 

 

 
 

S.No 

 
% Copper Slag +% Fine 

Aggregate 

 
MIX 

Name 

Slump Value 

(mm) 

1 0% CS + 100% FA M1 
95 

2 20% CS + 80% FA M2 
102 

3 40% CS + 60% FA M3 
110 

4 60% CS + 40% FA M4 
115 

5 80% CS + 20% FA M5 
124 

 

 

 

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST RESULTS 



 

 

h (Mpa) at 7 Days 

Compressive strength (M ngth (Mpa) at 28 Days 

 

 
 

S.No 

 
% Copper Slag +% Fine 

Aggregate 

 
MIX 

Name 

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, MPa 

7 Days 14 Days 28 Days 

1 0% CS + 100% FA M1 
24 25.31 27.22 

2 20% CS + 80% FA M2 
27.74 28.84 30.21 

3 40% CS + 60% FA M3 
29.54 31.33 32.81 

4 60% CS + 40% FA M4 
25.5 27.81 28.5 

5 80% CS + 20% FA M5 
24.24 26.46 27.13 

 

 

Compressive strength (Mpa) at 7 Days 
40 

30 27.74 29.54 
25.5

 
24 24.24 

20 

10 

0 

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 
 

Compressive strengt 

 
strength (Mpa) at 14 Days 

 

40 

30 
25.31 

20 

10 

0 

 
28.84 31.33 

27.81 26.46
 

 
Compressive stre 

40 

30 
27.22 

30.21 

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 
 

pa) at 14 Days 
 

 
32.81 28.5 

27.13 
20 

10 

0 

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 

 
 

SPLIT 

TENSILE 
 

Compressive strength (Mpa) at 28 Days 

 

STRENGTH 

Compressive 



 

 

 

  
 

S.No 

 
% Copper Slag +% Fine 

Aggregate 

 
MIX 

Name 

Split tensile 

strength 

(N/mm
2
) 

 

1 0% CS + 100% FA M1 
2.33 

2 20% CS + 80% FA M2 
2.65 

3 40% CS + 60% FA M3 
2.79 

4 60% CS + 40% FA M4 
2.06 

5 80% CS + 20% FA M5 
2.01 

Split Tensile Strength Results @28 days (N/mm2) 

3 
 

2.5 
 

2 
 

1.5 
 

1 
 

0.5 
 

0 

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 
 

Split Tensile Strength Results @28 days (N/mm2) 

 

 

FLEXURAL STRENGTH TEST RESULTS 

 
 

S.No 

 
% Copper Slag +% Fine 

Aggregate 

 
MIX 

Name 

Split tensile 

strength 

(N/mm
2
) 

1 0% CS + 100% FA M1 
2.12 

2 20% CS + 80% FA M2 
3.19 

3 40% CS + 60% FA M3 
4.24 



 

 

 

4 60% CS + 40% FA M4 
3.01 

5 80% CS + 20% FA M5 
1.12 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.0 CONCLUSIONS 

 The compressive strength of 40% replacement of fine aggregate by copper slag for 28 

days is 32.81 N/mm
2
  and for 7 days is 29.54 N/mm

2
 is higher as compared to 

conventional mix that are 24 N/mm
2
 and 27.22 N/mm

2
 for 7 days and 28 days 

respectively. 

 It also observed that, after 28 days of curing, the split tensile strength and flexural 

strength are obtained for the same 40% replacement that are 2.79N/mm
2
 and 

4.24N/mm
2
 is greater than conventional mix results, which are 2.33N/mm

2
 and 

2.12N/mm
2
 respectively. 

 Form the results of compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength, 

the concrete shown higher value at 40% replacement of fine aggregate by using 

copper slag. 

 We conclude that, by using copper slag as replacement for fine aggregate in concrete 

increases the density of concrete. 

 Hence, 40% replacement of copper slag is the optimum proportion for replacing fine 

aggregate. 

 
 

REFERENCES 

[1] Santha Kumar AR: Concrete technology. Oxford university press, engineering and 

computer Science. Section edition published 2006. 

[2] Shetty MS (2006): Concrete technology, theory and practice. S chand and company 

limited, India. 

[3] Abhisheka H Honnakkalavar: Experimental Study on concrete using Copper Slag as 

Replacement Material of Fine Aggregate, 2018, IRJET 

[4] Alaa M. Rashad (2016) “ A brief review on Blast Furnace Slag and Copper Slag as Fine 

aggregate in mortar and Concrete based on Portland Cement” Rev. Adv. Mater. Sci. 

Flexural Strength Results @28 days (N/mm2) 

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 

1.12 

2.12 

3.01 
3.19 

4.24 

Flexural strength results at 28 days(N/mm2) 



 

 

[5] Al-Jabri KS, Al-Oraimi SK: “Performance of High Strength Concrete made with Copper 

Slag as a Fine Aggregate”. Section edition published 2009. 

[6] Reddy SS: “Utilization of copper slag as a partial replacement of fine aggregate in 

concrete”. Section edition published 2013. 

[7] Sreelakshmi.S, Sruthi.K.P (2015) “ Copper Slag partially replaces Fine Aggregate in M25 

Concrete: A comparative study of Compressive Strength responses” IJSR Vol 5 :2319-7064. 

[8] Shi, C., and Qian, J.; High Performance Cementing Materials from Industrial Slags – A 

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[9] ASTM D5233-1995d, Standard Test Method for Single Batch Extraction Method for 

Wastes: ASTM International, 1992. 

[10] Madhavi, T.Ch. 2014. Copper slag in concrete as replacement material. International 

Journal of Civil engineering and technology (IJCIET). Vol.5, Issue, 3, pp.327-332. 

[11] Gorai, B. and Jana, R.K.2002. “Premchand. Characteristics and utilization of copper 

slag”,Resources Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 39, pp. 299-313. 

[12] Arivalagan. S (2013):“Experimental Study on the Flexural Behavior of Reinforced 

Concrete Beams as Replacement of Copper Slag as Fine Aggregate" Journal of Civil 

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