What is Silica Fume?
What is it?
Silica fume, also known as microsilica, is an ultrafine pozzolanic material. It’s essentially a very fine powder, much like the consistency of ash, composed mainly of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2).
How is it made?
Silica fume is a byproduct of the production of silicon metal and ferrosilicon alloys. During the smelting process, high-purity quartz is reduced with coal in electric arc furnaces. The intense heat vaporizes some of the silica, which then condenses into ultra-fine particles as it cools down. These particles are collected and processed to create silica fume.
What are its properties?
Silica fume has several unique properties that make it valuable in various applications:
Physical characteristics:
Color: gray or gray white powder
Refractoriness: >1600℃
Bulk density: 250-700 kg/m3
Chemical composition:
Items | SiO2 | Al2O3 | Fe2O3 | MgO | CaO | Na2O | PH average value |
content | 75~98% | 1.0±0.2% | 0.9±0.3% | 0.7±0.1% | 0.3±0.1% | 1.3±0.2% | neutral |
What are its uses?
Silica fume is primarily used as a mineral admixture in high-performance concrete. It’s particularly beneficial in applications where:
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