Enhancing Compressive Strength in M45 Grade Concrete: A Comparative Evaluation of Micro-silica and Alccofine as Partial Cement Replacements

Abstract

This study investigates the compressive strength and durability of M45 grade concrete using Micro-silica and Alccofine as partial replacements for cement. Experimental results indicate that Alccofine-based concrete achieves 28-day compressive strengths of up to 60.6 MPa at 10% replacement, outperforming Micro-silica-based mixes by 55.2 MPa. Alccofine also enhances workability, with slump values peaking at 144 mm and 135 mm for Micro-silica. The optimal replacement level for both materials is 10% by cement volume, where Alccofine’s dual pozzolanic-cementitious reactivity improves microstructure densification, reducing permeability and enhancing durability. These findings position Alccofine as a superior additive for high-strength concrete applications, offering significant mechanical and durability advantages.