Are there specific benefits in using silica fume in shotcrete beyond reduced permeability in the hardened shotcrete?

Shotcrete containing silica fume will tend to be more adhesive (sticking to substrate surfaces) and cohesive (adhesion to itself). This will result in quicker build-up (greater thicknesses per pass) and possibly reduced need for acceler­ators. Silica fume additions also result in dramatic reductions in rebound, particularly with the dry-mix process.