Page 9 - ICJ Jan 2026

TECHNICAL PAPER

[30] Xu, A., and Ding, Y. (2004). “Effect of silica fume on [40] Zhang, M. H., and Islam, J. (2000). “Use of nano-silica to
the pore structure of concrete”, Cement and Concrete reduce setting time and accelerate C-S-H formation”,
Research, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 947-956. Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 34, pp. 650-658.

[31] Snehal, K., Das, B. B., and Akanksha, M. (2020). “Early- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.11.013
age hydration, mechanical, and microstructure properties [41] Yu, R., Spiesz, P., and Brouwers, H. J. H. (2014). “Effect
of nano-silica-blended cementitious composites”, of nano-silica on the hydration and microstructure
Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 233, No. 117212, development of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC)
pp. 1-12.
with a low binder amount”, Construction and Building
[32] Snehal, K., and Das, B. B. (2021). “Acid, alkali, and chloride Materials, Vol. 65, pp. 140-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
resistance of binary, ternary, and quaternary blended conbuildmat.2014.04.063
cementitious mortar integrated with nano-silica particles”,
Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 123, No. 104214, [42] Snehal, K., Das, B. B., and Barbhuiya, S. (2022). “Influence
pp. 1-13. of aggressive exposure on the degradation of nano-silica-
admixed cementitious mortar integrated with phase-
[33] Quercia, G., and Brouwers, H. J. H. (2014). “Application change materials”, Construction and Building Materials,
of nano-silica to high-performance concrete mixtures”, Vol. 335, Article No. 127467, pp. 1-14.
Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 39, pp. 73-82.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2013.09.001 [43] Trivedi, S. S., Ansari, F., Das, B. B., and Barbhuiya, S. (2025).
“Effect of CO 2 curing on phase compositions of nano-
[34] Snehal, K., Das, B. B., and Barbhuiya, S. (2023). “Synergistic
effect of nano-silica on carbonation resistance of multi- silica-blended cementitious mortar partially replaced
blended cementitious mortar”, Cement and Concrete with carbonated recycled fine aggregates”, Construction
Composites, Vol. 141, Article No. 105125, pp. 1-14. https:// and Building Materials, Vol. 491, Article No. 142789,
doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.105125 pp. 1-15.

[35] Singh, L. P., Goel, A., Bhattacharyya, S. K., and Ahalawat, [44] Snehal, K., and Das, B. B. (2021). “Application of
S. (2013). “Beneficial role of nanosilica in cement based Andreassen and modified Andreassen model on
materials - A review”, Construction and Building Materials, cementitious mixture design: A review”, In Das, B.,
Vol. 47, pp. 1069-1077. Barbhuiya, S., Gupta, R., and Saha, P. (eds.) Recent
[36] Iler, R. K. (1979). “The chemistry of silica: Solubility, Developments in Sustainable Infrastructure, Lecture
polymerization, colloid and surface properties”, Notes in Civil Engineering , Springer, Vol. 75, Singapore,
Wiley, New York, USA. pp. 729-750.
[37] Lichtner, P. C. (1996). “Continuum formulation of [45] Snehal, K., Das, B. B., and Kumar, S. (2020). “Influence
multicomponent-multiphase reactive transport”, Reviews of integration of phase-change materials on hydration
in Mineralogy, Vol. 34, pp. 1-81. and microstructure properties of nano-silica-admixed
[38] Dietzel, M. (2000). “Interaction of silica with aqueous cementitious mortar”, Journal of Materials in Civil
solutions”, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 64, Engineering, Vol. 32, No. 6, Article No. 04020126, pp. 1-12.
No. 19, pp. 3275-3281. [46] Snehal, K., and Das, B. B. (2023). “Effect of phase-change
[39] Richardson, I. G. (2000). “The nature of C-S-H in hardened materials on the hydration and mineralogy of cement
cements”, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 30, No. 6, mortar”, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers –
pp. 967-980. Construction Materials, Vol. 176, No. 3, pp. 117-127.

BIIBHUTI BHUSAN DAS is currently serving as an Associate Professor at National Institute of
Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal. His research interests include design and development of sustainable
construction and building materials, microstructure and durability of cementitious composites, construction
planning and practices. Dr Das has handled several sponsored research projects in collaborations with
many esteemed Indian and foreign academic institutions and industries. He has published over 100 papers
in journals and conferences, edited 4 books and received many outstanding awards. He has established
Sustainable Construction and Building Materials Laboratory at NITK Surathkal, a specialized lab that practices
the theme of sustainability. Email : bdas@nitk.edu.in

Cite this article: Das, B. B. (2026). “Era from pozzolanic to super pozzolanic materials: The science behind the inclusion of nano-silica
in the cementitious composites”, The Indian Concrete Journal, Vol. 100, No. 1, pp. 60-65.

THE INDIAN CONCRETE JOURNAL | JANUARY 2026 65