A study of Metakaolin and Silica Fume used in various Cement Concrete Designs

In the present study, effect of pozzolanic material (Metakaolin and Silica fume) is studied through compressive and Flexural strength in cement concrete. Metakaolin and silica fume area used as cement replacement materials at 5%, 10% and 15% by mass keeping water–cement ratio as 0.42 Compressive and Flexural strength were observed after 7 and 28 days of curing. Silica fume is a by products resulting from the reduction of high – purity quartz with coal, coke and wood chips in an electric arc furnace during the productions of silicon metal or silicon alloys , Silica fume is known to improve both the mechanical characteristics and durability of cement concrete. Finally, the Compressive and Flexural strength performance of Metakaolin-concrete is compared with the performance of concrete blended with silica fume. The test results indicated that the Metakaolin when used in optimum quantity increase the compressive and Flexural strength of the concrete mix when compared with plain cement concrete and cement concrete with Silica fume. It was observed the optimum replacement dose of Metakaolin is 10% by weight of cement. At this percentage of Metakaolin, maximum compressive strength is achieved in the cement concrete.