noun
slag
SLAG/slæɡ/
Stony or glassy waste left by smelting, melting, or burning.
Dark, porous chunks of slag lie beside the steelworker's tool.
Etymology
Middle Low German slagge named a splinter flying off struck metal. English uses it for refuse left by smelting, retaining the connection with material separated from metal during metalworking.
In context
When they process the tin and smelt it, the waste slag can be further treated to extract tantalum.
More examples
- The slag cools into hard, glassy chunks.
- Burning coal at high temperatures can produce slag.
- Crushed slag from the steel mill serves as road-building material.