ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Silica fume

Okay kiddo, have you ever heard of a material called concrete? It's what they use to make roads, buildings, and even sidewalks! Silica fume is a special powder that's sometimes added to concrete to make it extra strong!

You see, when you mix up concrete, you take small rocks, sand, and something called cement and mix it all together with water. When the water and cement go together, they create a hard substance (like glue!) that helps everything stick together.

Now, silica fume is something that's added to the cement part of the mix. It's a very fine powder that's made from a material called silica. Think of it like sprinkling just a little bit of magic fairy dust on top of the cement!

But why do they add it? Well, silica fume has some special properties that make concrete even stronger. It helps fill in all the tiny gaps and spaces inside the concrete, kind of like how water fills up a sponge. This makes the concrete much denser and resistant to things like cracks and wear and tear.

So, in summary, silica fume is a special powder that's like magic fairy dust for concrete. It's added to the cement mix to make it extra strong and resistant to damage.