Improvement of Wood-Cement Composition Properties with Microsilica Additive

Abstract

The properties and microstructure of wood-cement compositions (WCC) with microsilica (MS) additive for the manufacture of small-pieces wall products are studied. The extreme dependences of mean density, thermal conductivity and compressive strength on the content of microsilica additive are established. The mechanism of microsilica effect on wood-cement compositions is offered. Two interrelated factors (chemical and physical) could be distinguished at that. The first factor includes mainly the interaction of silicon dioxide with lime having released during hydration of calcium silicates, i.e. pozzolatic process. The second factor lies in the compaction of wood-cement compositions and the cement stone structure by means of cement hydration products and silica particles. It is established that introducing 20% of microsilica in the composition results in the maximum increase in ultimate compression strength (3 times). It can be explained not only by forming calcium hydrosilicates, uniformly and densely covering the wood aggregate, but by compacting effect of spherical microsilica inclusions, filling the space between the new cement stone formations and wood aggregate.