Silicon powder, a byproduct of the silicon and ferroalloy industries, has emerged as a valuable commodity in various sectors due to its unique properties and the increasing emphasis on environmental protection. This article delves into the innovative applications of silicon powder, highlighting its transformative impact on construction materials, industrial processes, and environmental sustainability.
The journey of silicon powder from industrial waste to a resourceful material began in the 1950s. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, its engineering applications had taken root across Northern Europe, Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and the former Soviet Union. Silicon powder has since been integrated into a multitude of industries, including cement, concrete, fire-resistant materials, rubber, and chemicals, leading to the creation of numerous superior products.
Silicon powder, containing over 75% silica fume, is a byproduct of producing silicon ferroalloys and industrial silicon. During the manufacturing process, highly volatile SiO2 and Si gases rapidly oxidize and condense, resulting in the production of silica fume, which typically accounts for 10-20% of the output. Countries like Norway, Iceland, and Canada have successfully reclaimed silica fume for use as a raw material in cement production. The incorporation of 18 to 25% silica fume into Portland cement can enhance kiln capacity by 10-20% and improve cement strength after 28 days from 47Pa to 54-56Mpa.
High-density concrete made with silica fume exhibits a strength 2-3 times greater than ordinary concrete, along with superior corrosion resistance, insulation, abrasion resistance, impermeability, frost resistance, and chloride ion barrier properties. Denmark, for instance, utilizes this cement for corrosion-resistant flooring in food factories and heavy machinery, as well as for insulation and chloride ion corrosion layers in hydraulic concrete works.
Silicon powder has found its way into protective coatings for steel against corrosion and as a potential material for isolating radioactive waste. In construction and building materials, silica fume has become a mainstay, with North America, Europe, and Japan using approximately 40,000 tons annually in concrete, equivalent to 500,000 tons of cement mixed with silica fume. From 1981 to 1985, Canada alone used 1 million m^3 of silica fume concrete.
Silica fume's versatility extends to the production of water glass with a modulus greater than 4, which is neutral and suitable for high-temperature applications such as boron powder coatings. Shanghai has adopted this water glass in various applications. As a filler material, silica fume enhances the properties of rubber, resins, and other organic compounds due to its similarity to silicon-containing silica and Sio2 content.
In agriculture, silicon powder contributes to soil improvement and pest control. When mixed with potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate and heated, it forms a slow-release agricultural fertilizer, potassium silicate, which minimizes volatile loss and fosters crop root development. Countries like Norway, France, and Italy have also utilized silica fume as an anti-caking agent in fertilizers with excellent results.
Previously regarded as a pollutant, silica fume has been redefined through research and innovation as a valuable resource. As understanding and practical applications of silicon powder continue to expand, its utility and worth are set to rise even further. For more detailed information on the utilization of silicon powder, visit mhcmp.com.
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