LAUSR

Abstract In recent decades, CO2 emissions from concrete production account for 5% of the global total carbon emissions. At the same time, the amount of industrial waste is also increasing year by year. As a non-toxic and harmless industrial waste, copper slag (CS) has been a great concern for researchers as a type of building material in recent years. This paper mainly reviews the relevant literature published in the past decade; critically discusses the performance of CS and the influence of partial replacement of CS on performance; and performs a global analysis, pointing out the direction for the future research on CS concrete. To make the conclusion comprehensive and reliable, this paper has consulted more than 90 related studies. The fresh performance, mechanical property and durability of CS concrete are discussed from three aspects of particle size, replacement rate and replacement method. In conclusion, as a partial replacement of cement or aggregate in concrete, CS can appropriately improve the strength, chloride ion corrosion resistance, sulphate corrosion resistance, carbonation resistance and freezing–thawing resistance of concrete. On the basis of research that describes the durability and compressive strength of CS concrete, the particle size and replacement ratio of CS in concrete preparation should be below 10 mm and 40%, respectively. According to the environmental impact analysis, using CS as a partial substitute can improve the environmental impact, although the production process still needs to be improved. Global analysis of results indicates that the long-term mechanical properties and durability of CS concrete need to be further studied.