|
|
History & Manufacturing process
| 1944 |
US patent |
| 1950 |
Fiskaa Plant in Kristiansand (Elkem) installs first pilot filter for microsilica; early research into application areas for MS |
| 1952 |
First testing of silica fume in Portland-cement-based concretes. World's first publication on use of microsilica in concrete |
| 1950-1953 |
Pioneer work on use of microsilica in refractories |
| 1965-1970 |
Some companies invest in electrostatic precipitators Limited success; practically no longer in use |
| 1969 |
Commercial sales of microsilica to the fertiliser industry begin |
| 1970 |
First generation baghouse filters – also not successful |
| 1971 |
Commercial sales of microsilica to the concrete industry begin |
| 1974 |
Fiskaa Plant engineers (later forming the Elkem Materials' Filtration and Powder Technology Group, or FPT) totally re-design the industrial baghouse filter. |
| 1980-1985 |
Strong increase in know-how regarding the chemical and physical properties of microsilica |
| 1981 |
Sales to the fibre cement industry in 1980, to the castable refractories industry in 1981 and to the oil-well industry in 1984 |
| 1984 |
Introduction of membrane technology (PTFE) for filtration |
| 1990's |
Microsilica is recognised as a concrete additive that provides improved properties of both fresh and hardened concrete. Focus on durability and service life. |
| 2000 |
Microsilica is a staple of high-performance concrete production. Numerous megaprojects have been completed. International Standards are available. |
Silica fume has entered into common use in a majority of industrial countries and many developing countries.
Silica fume has long since been an internationally tradable product. Today, it is estimated that 15 million m3/year silica fume concrete are produced globally; the accumulated volume must by now have exceeded 200 million or more m3.
|
