From Waste to Wonder: The Remarkable Journey of Silica Fume in Industry
Introduction to Silica Fume Origin of Silica Fume Silica fume, also known as microsilica, is a byproduct of the industrial production of ferrosilicon and silicon metal alloys. It's a fine powder composed primarily of silica (SiO2) and forms when silicon and oxygen react at high temperatures. Originally considered a waste material, silica fume has since been recognized as a valuable resource for various industries. Properties of Silica Fume Silica fume possesses unique properties that make it particularly useful in industrial applications. It is a highly reactive pozzolan, which means it can form cementitious compounds when mixed with water and calcium hydroxide. It also has a very fine particle size, usually less than 1 micron, giving it a large surface area that helps improve bonding and packing in composite materials. How Silica Fume is Produced Collection and Processing During the production of silicon metal and ferrosilicon alloys, silica fume is generated as a byproduct in th...