Influence of Silica Fume on the Reflectivity and Transmission Efficiency of Cement-Based Materials

Xiuzhi Zhang^1*, Guodong Zhang¹, Yu Zhang², Zonghui Zhou¹

¹University of Jinan, Jinan, China.
²Norinco Group Institute, Jinan, China.

DOI: 10.4236/jamp.2014.29094                

Abstract

As a kind of mineral admixture, silica fume has low permittivity, which will affect the electromagnetic properties of cement-based materials. To study the effect of silica fume on the properties of cement-based materials, the reflectivity, transmission efficiency and pore structure were analyzed by using the vector network analyzer and mercury injection apparatus. Results show that silica fume can make the mortar more compact and the porosity of sample with 9% silica fume is only 17.8%, which is far lower than the control sample; With the increase of the silica fume content, the peak of reflectivity curve increases from -23.2 dB to -16.0 dB, and then decreases from -16.04 dB to -28.7 dB in the frequency range of 6 – 18 GHz. Reflectivity of sample with 3% content of silica fume is lower than other samples within 26.5 - 40 GHz; Transmission efficiency of samples shows the trend of increase with silica fume content increases from 0% to 6% within 8.2 - 12.4 GHz, 12 - 18 GHz and 26.5 - 40 GHz, but when the content increases from 6% to 9%, the transmission efficiency of samples reduces.

Keywords

Silica Fume, Cement-Based Materials, Reflectivity, Transmission Efficiency

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Rafat, S. (2011) Utilization of Silica Fume in Concrete: Review of Hardened Properties. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 55, 923-932. http:// doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2011.06.012
[2]	Fereshteh, A.S., Nicolas, A.L. and Mohammad, S. (2013) Mechanical and Durability Properties of Self Consolidating High Performance Concrete Incorporating Natural Zeolite, Silica Fume and Fly Ash. Construction and Building Materials, 44, 175-184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.02.069
[3]	Song, H.W., Pack, S.W., Nam, S.H., Jang, J.C. and Velu, S. (2010) Estimation of the Permeability of Silica Fume Cement Concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 24, 315-321. http:// doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.08.033
[4]	Liu, S.H., Liu, J.M. and Dong, X.L. (2007) Inorganic Wave Transmitting Materials. Electromagnetic Wave Shielding and Absorbing Materials, Chemical Industry Press, Beijing, 135-136.
[5]	Nam, I.W., Kim, H.K. and Lee, H.K. (2012) Influence of Silica Fume Additions on Electro-magnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Cement Composites. Construction and Building Materials, 30, 480-487. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.11.025
[6]	Zhang, X.Z. and Sun, W. (2010) Microwave Absorbing Properties of Double-Layer Cementitious Composites Containing Mn-Zn Ferrite. Cement & Concrete Composites, 32, 726-730. http:// doi:10.1016/j.ccemconcomp.2010.07.013