Specific Facilities Available From The Use Of Silica Based Concrete Additives

Silica Based Concrete Additives | Image Resource : microsilica-fume.com

The use of concrete additives is quite popular among the builders, as these materials can render better stability to their constructed buildings. Different metals and non-metals are used for creating these additives, among which silicon is a prominent chemical. The favorable properties of silica or silicon dioxide have encouraged its wide use in making best quality additives. Moreover, it is easily available in the market at a much cheap price, compared to other building materials.

Prime applications of silica based concrete additives in constructions

Silica additives are applied in different quantities for the constructions of various building parts. Usually, the silica based concrete additives are used in the proportion of 3 – 5% of the total volume of concrete paste, for constructing the beams and pillars of a building. Since the walls and floors demand more strength, these parts need silica additives in the measurement of 5 – 7% of the required concrete volume.

The basic foundation of a building should be strongest and thus, here the silica additives should be added in 7 – 10% of the total concrete amount used in construction. This percentage may be increased in case of constructing the bases of high-rise buildings, as those foundations should bear much heavier loads.

Many other constructions, like bridges, tunnels, and dams are made by adding 3.5 – 10% of silica additives to the concrete mixture. However, the exact proportion depends on the required strength of the construction structure.

Basic principles for using silica based concrete admixtures

When silica additive is added to the concrete paste, silicon molecules promptly react with calcium hydroxide of concrete. Due to this newly formed firm bonding between these two chemicals, only a little amount of silica based concrete admixtures may be sufficient for stable constructions. The addition of fly ash to the concrete additive mixture can boost the speed of the construction process.

However, the measurements of these additives should be accurate, to make the constructions highly durable to last for many years.