Condensed silica fume - a by-product from silicon alloys industry is s
hown to be an interesting precursor to prepare highly porous, shaped c
eramic articles, Compacts of silica fume of different green densities
were sintered at 1000 degrees C. Thermal conductivity of received bodi
es ranges from 0.07 to 0.208 W m(-1) K-1, the compression strength ran
ges from 1.2 to 53.0 MPa, respectively.