What is SILICA FUME?
Silica fume is a byproduct of producing silicon metal or ferrosilicon alloys. One of the most beneficial uses for silica fume is in concrete. Because of its chemical and physical properties, it is a very reactive pozzolana. Concrete containing silica fume can have very high strength and can be very durable. Silica fume is available from suppliers of concrete admixtures and, when specified, is simply added during concrete production. Placing, finishing, and curing silica-fume concrete require special attention on the part of the concrete contractor. Silica fume, also known as microsilica, is a byproduct of the reduction of high-purity quartz with coal in electric furnaces in the production of silicon and ferrosilicon alloys. Silica Fume is also collected as a byproduct in the production of other silicon alloys such as ferrochromium, ferromanganese, ferromagnesium, and calcium silicon (ACI Comm. 226 1987b). Before the mid-1970s, nearly all Silica Fume was discharged into the atmosphere. After environmental concerns necessitated the collection and landfilling of Silica Fume, it became economically justified to use Silica Fume in various applications.
The raw materials are quartz, coal, and woodchips. The smoke that results from furnace operation is collected and sold as silica fume, rather than being landfilled. Perhaps the most important use of this material is as a mineral admixture in concrete.
However the terms microsilica and silica fume are used to describe those condensedsilica fumes that are of high quality for use in the cement and concrete industry.
Silica fume was first obtained in Norway ,in 1947, when environmental restraints made the filtering of the exhaust gases from the furnaces compulsory. The major portion of these fumes was a very fine powder composed of a high percentage of Silicon-di-oxide. As the Pozzolanic reactivity for Silicon-di-oxide was well known extensive research was undertaken, principally at the Norwegian Institute of Technology. There are over 3000 papers now available that detail work on silica fume and silica fume concrete.
How does SILICA FUME CONCRETE WORK?
Silica fume is a byproduct of producing silicon metal or ferrosilicon alloys. One of the most beneficial uses for silica fume is in concrete. Because of its chemical and physical properties, it is a very reactive pozzolana. Concrete containing silica fume can have very high strength and can be very durable. Silica fume is available from suppliers of concrete admixtures and, when specified, is simply added during concrete production. Placing, finishing, and curing silica-fume concrete require special attention on the part of the concrete contractor. Silica fume, also known as microsilica, is a byproduct of the reduction of high-purity quartz with coal in electric furnaces in the production of silicon and ferrosilicon alloys. Silica Fume is also collected as a byproduct in the production of other silicon alloys such as ferrochromium, ferromanganese, ferromagnesium, and calcium silicon (ACI Comm. 226 1987b). Before the mid-1970s, nearly all Silica Fume was discharged into the atmosphere. After environmental concerns necessitated the collection and landfilling of Silica Fume, it became economically justified to use Silica Fume in various applications.
The raw materials are quartz, coal, and woodchips. The smoke that results from furnace operation is collected and sold as silica fume, rather than being landfilled. Perhaps the most important use of this material is as a mineral admixture in concrete.
However the terms microsilica and silica fume are used to describe those condensedsilica fumes that are of high quality for use in the cement and concrete industry.
Silica fume was first obtained in Norway ,in 1947, when environmental restraints made the filtering of the exhaust gases from the furnaces compulsory. The major portion of these fumes was a very fine powder composed of a high percentage of Silicon-di-oxide. As the Pozzolanic reactivity for Silicon-di-oxide was well known extensive research was undertaken, principally at the Norwegian Institute of Technology. There are over 3000 papers now available that detail work on silica fume and silica fume concrete.
How does SILICA FUME CONCRETE WORK?
In cementitious compounds, silica fume works on two levels, the first one described here is a chemical reaction called the "pozzolanic" reaction. The hydration (mixing with water) of Portland cement produces many compounds, including calcium silicate hydrates (CSH) and calcium hydroxide (CH). The CSH gel is known to be the source of strength in concrete. When silica fume is added to fresh concrete it chemically reacts with the CH to produces additional CSH. The benefit of this reaction is twofold; increased compressive strength and chemical resistance. The bond between the concrete paste and the coarse aggregate, in the crucial interfacial zone, is greatly increased, resulting in compressive strengths that can exceed 15,000 psi. The additional CSH produced by silica fume is more resistant to attack from aggressive chemicals then the weaker CH.
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