Durability, microstructure, and chemical properties of interlocking concrete paver block with silica fume

Recently, the usage of interlocking concrete paver blocks (ICPB) in pavement construction has received a lot of attention. Along with the advancement and widespread usage of ICPB, various changes to the manufacturing process have been made, including the replacement of cement with pozzolanic material. In this study, 5% silica fume (SF) which is a highly pozzolanic material was selected as cement replacement in ICPB and the durability, microstructure, and chemical properties of the sample were evaluated through initial surface absorption test, carbonation test, and Raman Spectroscopy analysis. Result reveals that 5% SF reduces the surface water absorption with 21.36 (mL/m2s) at 60 seconds yet increases the carbonation rate by 9% higher than the control ICPB. The microstructure analysis shows that 5% SF as cement replacement has improved the cement paste-aggregate bonding as well as the overall density of the concrete matrix. The Raman Spectroscopy analysis showed the presence of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) in all samples, and the hydration process of the concrete mixture increased in SF sample. In conclusion, ICPB modified with 5% SF has the potential to be used as a paver block with higher strength and durability.