An Introduction To Admixtures Of Silica Added To Concrete
Microsilica which is better known as “Silica Fume” is basically found in powder (extremely fine) form, and gets produced as a residue from producing silicon and ferrosilicon alloy(s). Under a microscope, the particles can be identified as spheres, with the diameter of each particle being recorded at 150nm(on average). Mixed with concrete it provides better strength and stability.
What are the Silica Fumes?
Concrete is made into a reactive pozzolan when, mixed with this fine textured powder containing high levels of SiO2. Present day Contractors of concrete arguably always use Silica Fumes for Concrete (Concrete Admixture). The quality of the Concrete is improved giving it better strength and making it more durable. However, extreme precaution(s) should be taken while handling the Admixture.
One of the main sources of Silica Fumes are the electrically run furnaces which are responsible for the production of Silicon and its Alloy(s). The smoke (after the burning process), is stored efficiently and this smoke is basically the Silica Fumes for Concrete. Wood chips and Coal are the basic material from where we procure Silicon.
How to use Silica Fumes for Concrete?
There is no restriction on whether this particular additive needs to be in a state of complete dryness as it can also be added into concrete, wet, without negatively affecting the quality of the resultant concrete. Personnel trained in mixing silica fumes with concrete are presently common, with almost all concrete mixtures across the globe have admixtures added to them.
The benchmark for concrete strength in the pre-admixture era was set at 6000psi. The introduction of admixtures during concrete mixing blew that limit out of the water. The final concrete created after the process of infusing silica fumes into the mixture was found (after extensive research) to allow for the creation of concrete at 15000psi strength (an increase of 150%).