Posco, Hyundai Steel, the Korea Expressway Corporation Research Institute (KECRI), and the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute (KRCRI) have partnered to promote the use of steel byproducts in highway construction. The collaboration focuses on establishing quality standards for steel slag aggregate, conducting joint research, and developing technology for its integration into highway asphalt.
Posco and Hyundai Steel aim to enhance the quality of steel slag as a durable road surface material, while KECRI will work on paving standards. KRCRI will support systemic improvements to facilitate the use of steel slag, advocating for regulatory updates by the Ministry of Environment.
Steel slag, a byproduct of refining molten iron, offers higher strength than natural aggregates like gravel and sand and is used as a foundational material in paving. With growing demand for high-quality highway asphalt and a shortage of natural aggregates, steel slag presents a durable alternative that reduces road damage, extends lifespan, and lowers maintenance costs.
Posco has already begun expanding steel slag’s use as a concrete aggregate and plans to increase its application in highway construction and pavement maintenance.
