Title: Permeabilities of Silica Fume Concrete

Author(s): D. Perraton, P.C. Aiticin, and D. Vezina

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 108

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 63-84

Keywords: air; chlorides; concretes; permeability; porosity; silica fume; water; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/2167

Date: 8/1/1988

Abstract:
Water, chloride-ion, and air permeability of two series of silica fume and non-silica fume concretes having water-cementitious ratios of 0.4 and 0.5 were studied as well as that of a 0.24 water-cementitious ratio silica fume concrete. Silica fume dosage varied from 5 to 20 percent by weight of cement. The water permeability of concrete samples having water-cementitious ratios lower than 0.5 is so low that they can be considered impervious whether they contain silica fume or not. The chloride-ion impermeability provided by silica fume rivals that of latex for water-cementitious ratios of 0.4 to 0.5 and polymer-impregnated concrete with a 0.24 w/c ratio. The two drying methods used in this research yielded a positive correlation between silica fume dosage and air permeability. Equal variations were observed for values of up to 10 percent, whereas at twenty percent, the increase was markedly sharper. The characterization of concrete permeability is not as simple as it appears. Sample preparation and fluid type can significantly affect the interpretation of the effect of an admixture such as silica fume.