Silica fume, a by-product of the ferrosilicon industry, is a highly pozzolanic material that is used to enhance mechanical and durability properties of concrete. It may be added directly to concrete as an individual ingredient or in a blend of portland cement and silica fume. In the United States, silica fume is used predominantly to produce concrete with greater resistance to chloride penetration for applications such as parking structures, bridges, and bridge decks.