Université De Sherbrooke

Philippe Pinsonneault

Pierre C Aitcin

Roland Fortin

There is provided a process for agglomerating volatilized silica in the form of grains by wetting same with from about 10 to about 35% by weight of an alkali or alkaline earth metal oxide solution in water, said agglomerated volatilized silica having a densification factor of 1.7 to 2.5 (when oven-dried) and a dry bulk density of from about 500 to 775 kg/m.sup.3. These agglomerated volatilized silica grains can be used to replace advantageously up to 50%, and in some cases more, by weight of Portland cement in the manufacture of concrete.

Agglomerated volatilized silica dust

There is disclosed a compacted unit of metallurgical grade granular material selected from silicon and ferrosilicon comprising a compressed homogeneous mixture of a fine powder of a silicon material selected from the group consisting of silicon and ferrosilicon, said silicon material being finer than 160 .mu.m, from 2 to about 5% by weight of the silicon material of sodium or calcium bentonite and from 2 to about 5% by weight of the silicon material of sodium or calcium lignosulfonate. The novel compacted units are useful for use in industrial processes requiring substantially pure silicon or ferrosilicon.

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Sherbrooke, Canada

Philippe Pinsonneault