Final Thoughts

However, I came across something interesting that I did not know: Steel slag can be used in fertilizers. Since Spring has sprung, at least here in Texas where I live, many people are starting their fertilizing regimen. But who is really thinking about the ingredients they’re laying down as they plant fresh flowers or a fine new shrubbery?

According to a 2015 technical report from Nippon Steel, “Both blast furnace slag and steelmaking slag have been utilized as raw materials for fertilizer. Fertilizers made of blast furnace slag or steelmaking slag are categorized in slag silicate fertilizer, by produced lime fertilizer, slag phosphate fertilizer or iron matter of special fertilizer. Effective elements in blast furnace slag are Ca, Si and Mg. Steelmaking slag contains Ca, Si, Mg, P, Mn and Fe. Steelmaking slag also contains plant available Si. Therefore, fertilizers made of steelmaking slag is more useful.”

So, there you have it. The next time you plan on feeding your lawn, you can share that interesting fact and impress all your neighbors.

Steel 101

It’s not too late to register for our Steel 101 workshop on Tues-Wed. April 11-12 in Cleveland. The course will feature a tour of Cleveland-Cliffs’ Cleveland Works.

Students will learn about steelmaking in the morning, and then they’ll see the processes they’ve just learned in action in the afternoon. They won’t just see, but actually feel that heat.

The combination of learning about a hot-strip mill and then seeing that mill in action really makes the knowledge stick. You can learn more and register here.

By Becca Moczygemba, becca@steelmarketupdate.com