Incorporating Silica Fume Research Articles

Influence of silica fume on pore structure, mechanical properties and carbon emission of reactive powder concrete prepared by ice crystal homogenization technology

Under ultra-low water-to-binder ratio conditions, the liquid-bridge effect between powders seriously restricts the development of reactive powder concrete (RPC). Ice crystal homogenization technology fundamentally solves the liquid-bridge problem between powders. However, high carbon emissions still constrain the application of RPC. This paper introduces an innovative RPC material incorporating silica fume (SF) as a supplementary cementitious material to solve environmental concerns and alleviate powder aggregation challenges based on the ice crystal homogenization technology. Experimental results show that there was a significant improvement in compressive and flexural strengths observed, particularly in RPC material containing 15% SF, which exhibited the most notable enhancements: a 19.7% increase in compressive strength to 296.3MPa and a 23.6% increase in flexural strength to 43.8MPa. Moreover, the optimized microstructure was reflected in a substantial reduction in water absorption rate and cumulative pore volume by 44.7% and 54.4%, respectively. Besides, RPC incorporating 15% SF achieved the lowest carbon emissions efficiency, with carbon emissions efficiency could be reduced by 79%~93% compared with conventional UHPC. In conclusion, the use of SF and ice crystal homogenization technology in RPC provides the great potential for developing sustainable construction materials and promoting carbon reduction strategies.

Synergistic Effects of Polypropylene Fibers and Silica Fume on Structural Lightweight Concrete: Analysis of Workability, Thermal Conductivity, and Strength Properties

Structural lightweight concrete (SLWC) is crucial for reducing building weight, reducing structural loads, and enhancing energy efficiency through lower thermal conductivity. This study explores the effects of incorporating silica fume (SF), micro-polypropylene (micro-PP), and macro-PP fibers on the workability, thermal properties, and strength of SLWC. SF was added to all mixtures, substituting 10% of the Portland cement (PC), except for the control mixture. Macro-PP fibers were introduced alone or in combination with micro-PP fibers at volumetric ratios of 0.3% and 0.6%. The study evaluated various parameters, including slump, Vebe time, density, water absorption (WA), ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), thermal conductivity coefficients (k), compressive strength (CS), and splitting tensile strength (STS) across six different SLWC formulations. The results indicate that while SF negatively impacted the workability of SLWC mortars, it improved CS and STS due to the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gels from SF’s high pozzolanic activity. Additionally, using micro-PP fibers in combination with macro-PP fibers rather than solely macro-PP fibers enhanced the workability, CS, and STS of the SLWC samples. Although SF had a minor effect on reducing thermal conductivity, the use of macro-PP fibers alone was more effective for improving thermal properties by creating a more porous structure compared to the hybrid use of micro-PP fibers. Moreover, increasing the ratio of micro- and macro-PP fibers from 0.3% to 0.6% resulted in lower CS values but a significant increase in STS values.

Enhancing Concrete Properties through Fly Ash Pelletized Aggregates and Fibre Reinforcement - A Review

This literature review examines recent studies in Lightweight Aggregate Concrete (LWAC), specifically focusing on utilizing fly ash pelletization and fibre reinforcement to enhance concrete properties. Fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion, has gathered attention because of its potential to be put forward as a critical component in creating lightweight aggregates. The process of pelletization, which involves forming fly ash into small, spherical pellets, has been shown to improve the mechanical properties of the resulting concrete. The process mainly includes the cold-bonded pelletization method, which consumes energy and is easy to use. The review gives fusion findings from various studies examining fly ash's role in producing lightweight aggregates and the impact of different additives and processes on the resulting material properties. Key insights reveal that incorporating silica fume, fly ash, and steel fibres remarkably improves concrete's compressive and bonding strengths. Additionally, the cold-bonded pelletization of fly ash and cement, especially when combined with Polypropylene (PP) and steel fibres, leads to enhanced aggregate properties, including strength, density, and water absorption. The review also highlights the importance of optimizing pelletization parameters and binder usage to improve the quality of lightweight aggregates and enhance the properties of concrete. Moreover, integrating hybrid fibres, such as carbon and polypropylene, enhances concrete's postpeak performance and flexibility. The findings suggest that these innovations in fly ash pelletization and fibre reinforcement improve mechanical performance and contribute to more sustainable and cost-effective concrete production. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research, offering insights into the future direction of LWAC development.

Enhancing Concrete Performance with Waste Foundry Sand Using Ternary Blended Mixes of Ordinary Portland Cement, Silica Fume, and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

AbstractMineral admixtures play an important part in improving the strength characteristics of concrete. This manuscript presents the incorporation of silica fume (SF) and ground granulated blast furnace slag into the concrete mix to decrease the cement content and enhance the strength and concrete's durability. In addition, river sand deposits have started to dry up. Also, eco‐friendly disposal of industrial wastes acts as a major threat to industries. Hence, the use of waste foundry sand (WFS) and M‐sand (MS) as fine aggregate is attempted in this study. In the first phase of this research work, concrete specimens have been prepared by partially replaced cement with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% by Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% by SF to find their optimum replacements in Ternary Blended Concrete (TBC). In the second phase, concrete specimens replaced with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% by WFS for fine aggregate (MS) were prepared and found optimum usage of foundry sand in waste foundry sand concrete (WFSC). In the third phase, a ternary blended green concrete (TBGC) was prepared by partially replaced cement with 30% GGBFS and 10% SF and replaced MS with 30% WFS and conducted strength (flexural strength, compressive and split tensile strength) and durability (acid and sulfate attack) studies. The above combination was found to be a promising way for the development of environmentally friendly concrete.

Porous concrete modification with silica fume and ground granulated blast furnace slag: Hydraulic and mechanical properties before and after freeze-thaw exposure

This study investigates the effects of incorporating silica fume (SF) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), both individually and in hybrid combinations, on various properties of porous concrete (PC) were evaluated under room conditions and after freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. The hardened density (HD), water permeability coefficient (k), apparent porosity (AP), as well as compressive strength (CS), splitting tensile strength (STS), and flexural strength (FS) at 7, 28, and 120 days. Additionally, the impact of SF and GBFS on the mass loss (ML), residual compressive strength (RCS), residual splitting tensile strength (RSTS), and residual flexural strength (RFS) of PC samples subjected to 30, 60, 120, and 180 freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles was analyzed. The findings revealed that the addition of SF and GBFS decreased the AP and k values of PC samples under room conditions. Furthermore, these materials significantly improved the CS, STS, and FS properties of PC samples, especially at the 28-day and 120-day marks, owing to their enhanced pozzolanic activity over time. SF and GBFS also contributed to higher RCS, RSTS, and RFS values in PC samples after F-T cycles compared to the control samples. This was due to their effective gap-filling properties and the formation of additional calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) gels within the matrix. Additionally, SF and GBFS led to slightly higher RDME values in the C1-C6 samples than in the control samples following F-T cycles. However, SF and GBFS did not have a significant impact on reducing the ML values of PC samples after F-T cycles.

Sustainable Pervious Concrete with Silica Fume as Cement Replacement: A Review

Pervious concrete is a unique type of concrete with high porosity that allows water to pass through. This characteristic makes it beneficial for various applications, such as stormwater management, groundwater recharge, and reduced heat island effect. However, pervious concrete typically requires more cement than conventional concrete because of its mix design. This increased cement content can be partially replaced with supplementary cementitious materials, such as silica fume. This review article investigates the influence of silica fume on the properties of pervious concrete, including the mechanical properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength), durability (resistance to freeze–thaw cycles and abrasion), and environmental aspects. The article highlights that silica fume can improve the mechanical properties and durability of pervious concrete up to an optimal replacement level. The optimum replacement level of cement with silica fume was found to be 10%–15%. Beyond this level, the performance of pervious concrete decreases. The pervious concrete containing silica fume showed superior abrasion resistance and improved freeze–thaw resistance compared to conventional pervious concrete. In addition, incorporating silica fume in pervious concrete reduces cement usage, leading to a lower environmental impact and more sustainable construction practices. The article also analyzes the limitations of using silica fume, such as the potential for reduced workability because of its fine particle size. Overall, the review suggests that silica fume is a promising supplementary cementitious material for enhancing the performance and sustainability of pervious concrete.

Strength Characteristics of Bentonite Nano Clay Stabilized with Addition of Lime, Fly Ash, and Silica Fume for Soil Environmental Sustainability

The suboptimal engineering characteristics, including low tensile strength and significant compressibility volumetric changes, are the significant challenges faced during the construction of sub-structures in expansive Soil. The instability of the sub-structure leads to the settlement of the structure and compromises its safety and endurance. This paper explores how Bentonite nano clay (BNC) reacts with varying proportions of lime, Fly Ash, and silica fume. The ratios used for these additives were 2%, 4%, and 6%. The Compaction Characteristics and the stress-strain curve are analyzed. Incorporating silica fume into BNC leads to a decrease in both the liquid limit and the plasticity index. Concurrently, this addition increases the plastic limit of the clay. As the percentage of silica fume in the mixture rises, there is a corresponding decrease in the maximum dry unit weight and an increase in the optimum moisture content. Additionally, the introduction of silica fume contributes to an increase in the free swell but also it has an increase in the swelling pressure of clay. These results suggest that silica fume stabilization is an effective method for treating expansive clay.

Performance Evaluation of Self-Compacting Glass Fiber Concrete Incorporating Silica Fume at Elevated Temperatures

In this work, the properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) and SCC containing 0.5 and 1% glass fibers (with lengths of 6 and 13 mm) were experimentally investigated, as well as their performance at high temperatures. With a heating rate of 5 °C/min, high-temperature experiments were conducted at 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C to examine mass loss, spalling, and the remaining mechanical properties of SCC with and without glass fibers. According to the results of the flowability and passing ability tests, adding glass fibers does not affect how workable and self-compacting SCCs were. These findings also demonstrated that the mechanical properties of samples with and without glass fibers rose up to 200 °C but then decreased at 400 °C, whereas the mixture containing 0.5% glass fibers of a length of 13 mm displayed better mechanical properties. Both SCC samples with and without glass fibers remained intact at 200 °C. Some SCC samples displayed some corner and edge spalling when the temperature reached about 400 °C. Above 400 °C, a significant number of microcracks started to form. SCC samples quickly spalled and were completely destroyed between 600 and 800 °C. According to the results, glass fibers cannot stop SCC from spalling during a fire. Between 200 and 400 °C, there was no discernible mass loss. At 600 °C, mass loss starts to accelerate quickly, and it increased more than ten times beyond 200 °C. The ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) of SCC samples with glass fibers increased between room temperature and 200 °C, and the mixture containing 0.5% glass fibers of a length of 13 mm showed a somewhat higher UPV than other SCC mixtures until it started to decline at about 400 °C.

Study on static and dynamic mechanical properties and microstructure of silica fume-polypropylene fiber modified rubber concrete

Through tests and micro-observations, the static and dynamic mechanical properties and microstructure of rubber concrete samples modified with varying amounts of silica fume and polypropylene fiber content were explored. The results indicate that incorporation of silica fume and polypropylene fiber can effectively enhance the performance of rubber concrete. Moreover, at 10% and 0.1% of silica fume and polypropylene fiber content respectively, rubber concrete’s compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and dynamic compressive strength reached maxima. Furthermore, microstructure characteristic analysis indicated that inadequate adhesion between rubber particles and the matrix is responsible for compromised bearing capacity in unmodified rubber concrete. However, with the addition of silica fume and polypropylene fiber, the fiber binds the rubber particles closely with the matrix, while the silica fume fills the gaps between the matrix components. This combination results in rubber concrete with a denser internal structure and enhances its bearing capacity significantly.

Novel activation method of waste concrete powder for sustainable clinker-free binder

This study investigates the environmental and mechanical implications of incorporating silica fume into lime-activated thermo-mechanically treated waste concrete powder (TMWCP) to develop a sustainable clinker-free binder. The novel activation method involves thermo-mechanical treatment of WCP, followed by lime and calcium formate chemical activation. The results demonstrated that incorporating silica fume enhanced the pozzolanic reactivity, which led to the formation of C–S–H, pore refinement, and a dramatic increase in compressive strength. For instance, the incorporation of 20 % and 25 % silica fume exhibited compressive strength of 46 MPa and 43 MPa after 28 days of curing. The developed clinker-free binder with the addition of 20 % silica fume demonstrated a reduction in mineral resource consumption of 99.3 % and CO2 emissions of 13 % and 69.3 % compared to the sample without silica fume and ordinary Portland cement, respectively. This study offers a promising avenue for the widespread utilization of WCP as an environmentally friendly clinker-free binder.

The Effect of Using Sustainable Copper Fiber on Some Mechanical Properties of High Strength Green Concrete

Finding an alternative to materials that pollute during manufacturing, most notably cement, is vital to executing the idea of sustainability in the building sector. It was vital to develop concrete that assists in the reduction of CO2 (Carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere because industrial wastes contain calcium, silica, and aluminous minerals, such as silica fume, that are employed in the production of high-strength concrete and have parameters that are identical to those of regular concrete. As a substitute for Portland cement, lime cement was utilized, and 15% of the cement's weight was substituted with silica fume. Environmentally friendly fibers (Copper Fiber) created from old electrical and electronic equipment were also employed. The purpose of the study is to produce High Strength Green Fiber Concrete (HSGFC) by incorporating silica fume as a replacement and study the effect of adding fiber on some mechanical attributes. The task needed the creation of a high strength concrete mixture of cement with a compressive strength of 65 MPa in accordance with ACI 211.4R, as well as the development of numerous experimental mixtures that relied on the findings of earlier researchers. The mechanical properties (compressive strength, flexural strength and split tensile strength) of samples are tested at 7, 28 and 60 days with standard curing. The results show that adding sustainable fiber to concrete mix enhances the mechanical properties such as compressive strength by 16% at 28 days, flexural strength by 35% and spilt tensile strength by 44% at 28 days Compared with concrete mix with no fiber. Also, the outcomes showed that it is feasible to develop High Strength Concrete (HSC) using sustainable copper fiber possessing exceptional stress resistance, tensile strength, and flexural strength.

Strength Properties and Sulphate Resistance of Self-Compacting Concrete Incorporating Silica Fume and Metakaolin

Abstract: Self-compacting concrete, or SCC, makes it possible to go over obstacles and get rid of vibration. Since 1988, SCC has been more and more well-liked in Japan, Europe, and the US due to the benefits it provides. SCC technology may reduce or perhaps completely eliminate concrete laying issues in difficult situations. Additionally, it reduces the number of times quality control tests need to be performed, saving time and effort. Quicker and less intricate in terms of placement and structure. When vibrating is not utilized, noise pollution is decreased. Concrete becomes more durable when SCC is used, particularly in parts with permeability defects or reinforcing congestion. The goal of this study is to look into how resistant self-compacting concrete made with metakaolin and silica fume is to sulfates and what its compressive and splitting tensile strengths are. Metakaolin and silica fume may also be used as cement substitutes at 5%, 10%, and 15% levels. The tests that are performed on the samples include sulfate, compressive resistance, and cracking tensile strength. On the seventh, 28th, and 56th days of life, a test is given. This experiment using self-compacting concrete from Metakolin and silica fume passed every plastic stage test with flying colors. Furthermore, the splitting tensile strength and hardened-stage compressive strength tests yielded good results. Comparing metakaolin with silica fume, the compressive strength increased by 15–45% and 18–38%, respectively. The use of metakaolin for cement and silica fume in the building process increased SCC's resistance to sulfate.

Influence of Drying Conditions on the Durability of Concrete Subjected to the Combined Action of Chemical Attack and Freeze-Thaw Cycles.

The durability of concrete is critical for the service life of concrete structures, and it is influenced by various factors. This paper investigates the impact of the relative humidity (RH) of the curing environment on the durability of five different concrete types. The aim is to determine a suitable approach for designing concrete that is well-suited for use in the salt lake region of Inner Mongolia. The concrete types comprise ordinary Portland cement (OPC), high-strength expansive concrete (HSEC), high-strength expansive concrete incorporating silica fume, fly ash, and blast furnace slag (HSEC-SFB), steel fiber-reinforced high-strength expansive concrete (SFRHSEC), and high elastic modulus polyethylene fiber-reinforced high-strength expansive concrete (HFRHSEC). All these concrete types underwent a 180-day curing process at three distinct relative humidities (RH = 30%, 50%, and 95%) before being subjected to freeze-thaw cycles in the Inner Mongolia salt lake brine. The curing environment with a 95% RH is referred to as the standard condition. The experimental results reveal that the durability of OPC and HSEC decreases significantly with increasing relative humidity. In comparison with the control sample cured in 95% RH, the maximum freeze-thaw cycles for concrete cured in lower RHs are only 31% to 76% for OPC and 66% to 77% for HSEC. However, the sensitivity of the durability of HSEC-SFB, SFRHSEC, and HFRHSEC to variations in RH in the curing environment diminishes. In comparison with the corresponding reference value, the maximum freeze-thaw cycles for samples cured in dry conditions increase by 14% to 17% for HSEC-SFB and 21% for SFRHSEC. Specifically, the service life of HFRHSEC cured in a low RH is 25% to 46% higher than the reference value. The durability of HSEC-SFB, SFRHSEC, and HFRHSEC has been proven to be appropriate for structures located in the salt lake region of Inner Mongolia.

Experimental Study On Strength of Concrete Using Nano silica

The test on hardened concrete were destructive test on cube for size (150×150×150 mm) at 7, 14, 28 days of curing as per IS: 516-1959, flexural strength test on beam (100×100×500 mm) at 7, 14, 28 days of curing as per IS: 516-1959 and split tensile strength test on cylinder (100mmφ×200mm) at7, 14, 28 days of curing as per IS: 5816-1999. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of silica fume as a pozzolanic material for replacing cement in concrete. It is anticipated that incorporating silica fume into concrete will enhance its strength properties. In this study, the combination of 5% nanosilica and 10%metakaolin which replaced part of the cement had the best results in the Mechanical properties of concrete with a 15% increase in the compressive strength and a 40%increase in the flexural and tensile strength of concrete.

Upcycling of lime mud into lightweight artificial aggregates through the crushing technique

Lime mud (LM), a solid waste generated in the paper-making industry, was proposed to manufacture lightweight artificial aggregates (LAAs) via the crushing technique. LAAs with a loose bulk density of 765–885 kg/m3, an apparent density of 1270–1445 kg/m3, and a strength of 5.7–7.2 MPa were achieved. To optimize the crushing-consumption energy and the mechanical properties, the mix proportions and curing ages of the LAAs before crushing were comprehensively investigated through mineralogy and microstructure analyses. In addition, the embodied carbon and material costs of the manufactured LAAs were estimated. Results showed that the early-crushed LAAs (curing till 28 days) enabled achieving the higher 28-day strength compared to the 28-day-crushed LAAs; however, the early-crushed LAAs tended to produce more contents of powder. The incorporation of silica fume (SF) reduced the contents of crushing powder and refined the pore characteristics of the LAAs. An optimized mix proportion (LM:cement:SF = 5:3:2) of the LAAs crushed on day 3 showed the best comprehensive properties, considering the mechanical properties, material costs, energy consumption, and embodied carbon. Overall, this study offers insight into the LAA production via the crushing technique and the value-added use of LM in the construction industry.

Incorporation of Silica fume and Metakaolin to improve the Durability properties in Self-curing concrete

Concrete is a composite material that has evolved into a much-needed material in the field of construction. One of the approaches to improving the durability of concrete is by using pozzolanic materials like fly ash, silica fume, blast furnace slag, and metakaolin. Using this supplementary cementitious material, the effects of cement that cause severe environmental impacts can be eradicated. In this investigation, an attempt has been made to study the strength characteristics of M20-grade concrete mixes with partial replacement of cement by metakaolin and silica fume and full replacement of fine aggregate by M-sand. We use Polyethylene glycol 6000 as a self-curing agent to eliminate conventional curing. The replacement percentage of metakaolin is 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, and silica fume is replaced by 10% of the weight of cement, respectively. The addition of 1.5% of polyethylene glycol 6000 is used to make concrete as a self-curing concrete. Since this project focuses on replacing the cement and fine aggregate, from the optimum percentage, the cubes will be cast and tested to study the durability properties of the concrete.

Resistência à penetração de cloretos em concretos produzidos com agregado miúdo reciclado e sílica ativa

Abstract The use of by-products and recyclable materials in the production of concrete has become an interesting alternative to mitigate environmental impacts, especially those generated by the construction industry, as long as their mechanical and durability properties do not early compromise the service life of the structures. The resistance of concrete to the penetration of harmful agents, such as chloride ions, is an important property since it directly correlates with the performance, integrity, and durability of reinforced concrete structures. This study evaluate four concrete mixes were cast for aggressiveness class III of NBR 6118 [1] produced with 8% of partial replacement of Portland cement with silica fume, resulting of metallurgical production, and with 30% partial replacement of natural fine aggregates by recycled fine aggregate from fresh concrete waste, obtained from the concrete production process in concrete mixer trucks. At 28 days of age, the specimen was submitted to capillarity, mechanical resistance and chloride migration tests, according to the NT BUILD 492 standard [2]. In general, the results indicated that the proposed replacements improved mechanical properties and chloride ion penetration resistance, mainly with the incorporation of silica fume.

Use of silica fume as a replacement of cement in the concrete

Over the past 30 years, significant advancements have been made in enhancing the capabilities of concrete as a construction material, with a focus on high-strength concrete applications using Silica Fume (SF). Global interest in SF as a pozzolanic admixture has surged owing to its ability to enhance concrete properties when used at specific percentages. This study examined the effect of addition of SF in concrete mixes. The performance of concrete in corrosive environment is most important and it can be enhanced by the addition of SF. For strength and longevity, hight strength concrete is required. In this study, concrete was prepared with varying proportions of silica fume (5, 10, and 15% by aggregate volume). The specimens were tested to evaluate their strength. The cubes and beams were casted, cured and tested on universal testing machine. The findings showed that both the compressive and flexural strengths were improved by the addition of silica fume. The mechanical and durability properties of concrete are significantly enhanced by the incorporation of silica fume. The findings of this study are helpful for construction industry in the use of silica fume as an economical choice for the enhancement of strength.

Experimental study on the strength properties of concrete modified with silica fume and steel fiber

Concrete is a widely used building material. It has excellent compressive strength but is brittle and relatively weak in tension. This experimental study aims to develop ductile and high-strength concrete by incorporating silica fume and steel fibers. Two types of steel fibers with aspect ratios of 52 and 72 were employed at varying percentages (0.44%, 0.88%, and 1.76% by mass of cement content). Additionally, 8.5% silica fume by cement mass was added to the concrete mixture. A water-to-cement (W/C) ratio of 0.42 and a slump of 100 mm are maintained. Substituting cement with silica fume improves the concrete's mechanical properties and elastic modulus. Moreover, adding steel fibers enhanced flexural and tensile strength. Increasing the percentage of silica fume and steel fibers correlated with higher compressive strength, while the aspect ratio of steel fibers has an inverse effect on compressive strength, with lower aspect ratios exhibiting a higher compressive strength. Furthermore, as the percentage of silica fume and steel fibers increases, the splitting tensile and flexural strength also improve, with the aspect ratio directly influencing these strengths, higher aspect ratios resulting in superior tensile and flexural strength. Ultimately, this investigation demonstrates that the strength properties of concrete rely on the content of silica fume, steel fibers, and the aspect ratio of the steel fibers.

Corrosive effect of HCl and H2SO4 exposure on the strength and microstructure of lithium slag geopolymer mortars

Resistance of geopolymer against aggressive effects of strong acid governs its service life. This research investigates the effect of silica fume incorporation on the strength degradation of lithium slag geopolymer (LSG) mortars after exposure to strong acids and presents the relationship between microstructure, calorimetry, and residual strength. Silica fume incorporated LSG mortars containing sodium (Na) and potassium (K) based alkaline activators were exposed to 5% sulphuric and hydrochloric acid solutions separately for 60 days. The sulphuric acid deterioration of LSG in terms of maximum percentage reduction in compressive strength was 37.42% upon incorporating 40% silica fume in geopolymer with a Na-based alkaline activator. LSG mixes activated by Na-activators demonstrated higher acid resistance compared to those activated by K-based activators. Leaching of aluminium (Al) from the aluminosilicate gel matrix occurred, which subsequently deteriorated aluminosilicate gel matrix when exposed to hydrochloric acid, whereas the leaching of Al occurs alongside the crystallization of calcium sulfate when specimens were exposed to sulphuric acid solution. The incorporation of silica fume reduces the initial calorimetric heat evolution and higher degree of geopolymerization marked by higher heat evolution between 5–48 h than the control LSG. The intense evolution of heat in control LSG at the initial stage of geopolymerization yielded a poor microstructure. Thus, acid-induced strength degradation is lower in silica fume-incorporated gel due to its denser microstructure and higher quantity of aluminosilicate gel formation. Hence, the incorporation of silica fume significantly improved its acid resistance, thus LSG may have industrial applications concerning acid exposure.