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Denser Concrete Left the Fungus Nowhere to Enter

Silica fume and a superplasticizer cut capillary porosity and prevented Aspergillus colonization in a 28-day test.

Published Updated Story ID: mp-2026-08-03-004
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Summary

Silica fume and a superplasticizer cut capillary porosity and prevented Aspergillus colonization in a 28-day test.

Concrete made with 15 percent silica-fume replacement and a polycarboxylate superplasticizer reduced capillary porosity by 40.6 percent, to 4.39 percent, while improving mechanical properties. Control specimens developed Aspergillus biofilms after inoculation; the modified specimens remained free of colonization through 28 days. The result is a controlled materials experiment, not proof of indefinite resistance in field infrastructure.

Why it matters

Silica fume and a superplasticizer cut capillary porosity and prevented Aspergillus colonization in a 28-day test.

Limits and context

  • The result is a controlled materials experiment, not proof of indefinite resistance in field infrastructure.

Key claims

  1. Silica fume and a superplasticizer cut capillary porosity and prevented Aspergillus colonization in a 28-day test.

    Qualification: The result is a controlled materials experiment, not proof of indefinite resistance in field infrastructure.

    Evidence: source-2026-08-03-004

Sources

  1. Construction Materials: silica fume and concrete bioreceptivityEmerald · secondary reporting

Corrections

No corrections have been recorded for this story.