Micro silica, also known as silica fume, is a byproduct of producing silicon metal or ferrosilicon alloys. Its applications in various industries, particularly in high-strength concrete, have been expanding rapidly. Despite its late start, China has been catching up in the research, recycling, and application of micro silica. The country's emphasis on environmental protection and the growing demand for high-performance construction materials have led to significant advancements in the recovery and utilization of silica fume.
In the past, many ferrosilicon production enterprises in China overlooked the potential of silica fume recovery. However, with the country's increasing focus on environmental sustainability and the tightening of regulations on polluting industries, these enterprises have begun to adopt dust collection systems and encryption technologies to capture and recycle silica fume.
One of the challenges faced by the industry is the lack of standardization in the silica content of silicon powders. These powders are often considered extensive industrial products, which can limit their application potential. To address this, there has been a push for the development of high-quality silica fumes that meet stringent industry standards.
The application of silica fume has seen rapid development, with the gap between China and foreign countries narrowing. Silica fume is now widely used in:
These applications have demonstrated significant technical and economic benefits. Some of the application technologies have reached or even surpassed the levels achieved abroad in the early 1980s.
Most industrial silicon plants in China can now recycle one ton of high-quality silica fumes for every three tons of industrial silicon produced. Similarly, for every five tons of ferrosilicon produced, one ton of silica fume can be recycled.
The global market for silica fume is experiencing a steady increase in demand. Countries like the United States, Russia, Japan, and Norway produce over 64,000 tons of silica fume annually, yet this is still insufficient to meet the market needs. China's prominent position in ferrosilicon and silicon metal production has drawn international attention, with foreign investors seeking to procure silica fume from Chinese sources.
Silica fume's market potential is vast, with concrete being a fundamental material in the construction industry. The addition of micro silica to concrete significantly enhances its strength and performance. While high-performance concrete can also be achieved using other fillers like fly ash and blast furnace slag, silica fume is particularly effective in improving concrete's overall properties.
China, as the world's largest consumer of refractories, has a mature technology base for silica fume applications in this sector. The refractories, metallurgy, and building materials industries are expected to maintain steady growth, with the demand for refractories projected to continue its rapid increase.
Silica fume is also utilized in:
Furthermore, silica fume can replace fumed silica in rubber, plastics, paints, pesticides, high-performance ceramics, and composite fertilizers.
The current market demand for silica fumes is estimated to be between 28 to 35 million tons per year. However, only a few companies in China are producing silica fumes, with total production ranging from 18 to 20 million tons per year. This production level is insufficient to meet the growing demand. As the economy continues to develop and infrastructure projects in water, electricity, water conservancy, and road transport expand, the future market for silica fumes looks promising.
For more detailed information on the applications and benefits of silica fume in concrete, you can refer to the American Concrete Institute and The Silica Fume Association.
Please note that the original source provided (http://www.mhcmp.com) could not be verified for updated statistics and data, as the website was not accessible at the time of writing this article.
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