To explore the effects of silica fume on the mechanical and durability properties of steel slag-cement-based materials under steam curing conditions,this paper conducts experimental tests on the compressive strength,flexural strength,shrinkage,chloride ion permeability,and frost resistance of steel slag-silica fume-cement composite materials with varying silica fume contents.The results indicate that steam curing adversely affects the mechanical and durability properties of steel slag-silica fume-cement composite materials.The addition of silica fume positively influences the me-chanical properties,chloride ion permeability,and frost resistance of the steel slag-cement-based materials,while negatively affecting shrinkage.Under steam curing conditions,compared to the sole addition of 30%steel slag,the inclusion of 2%to 10%silica fume results in:a 6.8%to 25.5%increase in the 28-day compressive strength of the mortar,with 6%being the optimal silica fume content;a 3.4%to 32.6%increase in shrinkage rate,which rises with the amount of silica fume;a 12.2%to 84.3%reduction in the concrete's chloride ion diffusion coefficient,and a 23.3%to 39.9%increase in the rel-ative dynamic modulus of elasticity after 100 freeze-thaw cycles,indicating that chloride ion permeability and frost resist-ance improve with the addition of silica fume.However,the performance gains are limited when the silica fume content ex-ceeds 6%.