Pota Ocağı Cürufunun Yol Altyapı Zeminlerinin Stabilizasyonunda Kullanımı: Mekanizmalar, Performans ve Kısıtlara İlişkin Nicel Bir Derleme

Abstract

Yol altyapı zeminlerinde geleneksel kimyasal stabilizasyon uygulamaları, başta Portland çimentosu olmak üzere yüksek karbon ayak izine sahip bağlayıcılara dayanmaktadır. Çalışma, çelik endüstrisinin bir yan ürünü olan Pota Ocağı Cürufu'nun (Ladle Furnace Slag - LFS) killi yol zeminlerinin stabilizasyonundaki performansını eleştirel ve nicel bir bakış açısıyla değerlendiren sistematik bir derlemedir. Web of Science, Scopus ve Google Scholar veritabanlarından LFS odaklı 30 birincil araştırma makalesi ile geleneksel ve alternatif bağlayıcılarla karşılaştırma amacıyla 19 ek referans incelenmiştir. Derleme; LFS’nin fiziksel, kimyasal ve mineralojik karakterizasyonunu, kısa vadeli katyon değişimi ile orta ve uzun vadeli puzolanik (C-S-H) reaksiyon mekanizmalarını, makroskobik mühendislik performansını (UCS, CBR, plastisite, sıkışabilirlik), hacimsel kararlılığı ve çevresel-ekonomik etkileri bütüncül bir yaklaşımla ele almaktadır. Bulgular, optimum stabilizasyon performansının ağırlıkça %5–%20 LFS dozaj aralığında elde edildiğini; yüksek plastisiteli killerde %20 LFS ilavesinin UCS’yi %219 oranında artırarak 2368 kPa seviyesine çıkardığını ve konsolidasyon oturmalarını %30,5 oranında azalttığını göstermektedir. Düşük taşıma kapasiteli zeminlerde ise uygun koşullar altında %5 dozajda dahi CBR’nin bir mertebe artırılabildiği raporlanmıştır. Buna karşılık, serbest CaO ve MgO kaynaklı gecikmeli genleşme (saf LFS’de %40’lara kadar, kil matrisinde %1’in altına düşen) en yaygın durabilite riski olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Çevresel açıdan, kil matrisinin tamponlama etkisiyle sızıntı suyunda pH değerinin 12,6’dan 9,8’e düştüğü, elektriksel iletkenliğin ise %81 azalarak 0,68 mS/cm seviyesine indiği; ağır metallerin (Pb, Cd) immobilize edildiği belirlenmiştir. Karbonatlaşma yoluyla kendi ağırlığının %9,6’sına kadar CO₂ tutabilen LFS, döngüsel ekonomi prensipleriyle uyumlu sürdürülebilir bir alternatif olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Mevcut bulguların, uzun süreli saha verileri, malzemeye özgü karakterizasyon protokolleri ve hibrit bağlayıcı sistemleri ile desteklenmesi gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Pota ocağı cürufu
• Zemin stabilizasyonu
• Yol altyapısı
• Sürdürülebilirlik

Use of Ladle Furnace Slag in the Stabilization of Road Subgrade Soils: A Quantitative Review on Mechanisms, Performance, and Limitations

Abstract

Conventional chemical stabilization of road subgrade soils relies on binders with high carbon footprints, primarily Portland cement. This study is a systematic review that critically and quantitatively evaluates the performance of Ladle Furnace Slag (LFS), a byproduct of the steel industry, in stabilizing clayey subgrade soils. A total of 30 primary research articles on LFS were analyzed from the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, along with 19 additional references for comparison with conventional and alternative binders. The review comprehensively addresses the physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization of LFS; short-term cation exchange and medium- to long-term pozzolanic (C-S-H) reaction mechanisms; macroscopic engineering performance (UCS, CBR, plasticity, compressibility); volumetric stability; and environmental and economic impacts. The findings indicate that optimal stabilization performance is achieved at LFS dosages of 5–20% by weight. In high-plasticity clays, adding 20% LFS increases UCS by 219% to 2368 kPa and reduces consolidation settlements by 30.5%. In soils with low bearing capacity, even a 5% dosage has been reported to increase CBR by an order of magnitude under suitable conditions. However, delayed expansion caused by free CaO and MgO—reaching up to 40% in pure LFS but decreasing to below 1% within a clay matrix—emerges as the most commonly reported durability concern. From an environmental perspective, the clay matrix's buffering effect reduces leachate pH from 12.6 to 9.8 and decreases electrical conductivity by 81%, to 0.68 mS/cm, while immobilizing heavy metals such as Pb and Cd. Through carbonation, LFS can sequester up to 9.6% of its mass as CO₂, making it a sustainable alternative aligned with circular economy principles. The current findings should be supported by long-term field data, material-specific characterization protocols, and hybrid binder systems.

Keywords

• Ladle furnace slag
• Soil stabilization
• Road infrastructure
• Sustainability

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