Precipitated and Fumed Silica

Applications of Precipitated and Fumed Silica  

1.  Rubber & Elastomer Industry  

– Precipitated Silica  

  – Tire Treads: Replaces carbon black to enhance wet grip and abrasion resistance (e.g., green tires), reducing rolling resistance for fuel efficiency.  

  – Silicone Rubber: Acts as a reinforcing filler to improve tensile strength and tear resistance in seals and O-rings.  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Specialty Rubbers: Improves high-temperature and chemical resistance in fluoroelastomers and acrylate rubbers for automotive seals.  

  – Transparent Rubber Products: Used in medical catheters and optical lens seals due to high transparency.  

2. Coatings & Inks  

– Precipitated Silica  

  – Antisettling Agent: Prevents pigment sedimentation in water-based coatings (e.g., exterior wall latex paints).  

  – Matting Agent: Reduces surface gloss in coatings (e.g., matte furniture paints).  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Rheology Control Agent: Prevents sagging in solvent-based coatings (e.g., marine anticorrosive paints) and enhances thixotropy.  

  – Abrasion Additive: Added to UV inks to improve scratch resistance of printed surfaces (e.g., phone case coatings).  

3. Adhesives & Sealants  

– Precipitated Silica  

  – Thickener: Adjusts viscosity in water-based adhesives (e.g., woodworking glues) to prevent dripping.  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Thixotropic Agent: Enables “non-sag” properties in silicone sealants (e.g., building curtain wall sealing) for better workability.  

  – High-Strength Filler: Enhances shear strength in epoxy adhesives for metal bonding.  

4. Food & Pharmaceuticals  

– Precipitated Silica  

  – Food Additive: Acts as an anticaking agent (e.g., in milk powder, coffee powder) to prevent particle agglomeration (FDA-approved).  

  – Drug Carrier: Functions as a disintegrant or lubricant in tablets (e.g., aspirin tablets).  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Pharmaceutical Excipient: Used as a thickener in ointments or improves drug dispersibility in inhalants (requires pharmaceutical-grade purity).  

5. Plastics & Composites  

– Precipitated Silica  

  – Reinforcing Filler: Added to PP/PE to increase rigidity (e.g., automotive bumpers) and reduce molding shrinkage.  

  – Insulation Material: Enhances dielectric properties in cable compounds (e.g., high-voltage cable insulation layers).  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Nanocomposites: Improves impact resistance and light transmittance in PC/PMMA (e.g., optical lens substrates).  

  – Antiblocking Agent: Prevents film sticking during winding in plastic films (e.g., food packaging).  

6. Cosmetics & Personal Care  

– Precipitated Silica  

  – Oil Control Agent: Absorbs sebum in face powders and foundations to maintain skin dryness (e.g., setting powders).  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Thickening & Suspending Agent: Stabilizes formulas in mascaras and sunscreens (e.g., waterproof sunscreens).  

  – Skin Feel Modifier: Provides a silky texture (e.g., “soft focus” effect in premium creams).  

7. Electronics & Semiconductors  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Encapsulation Materials: Serves as a filler in LED encapsulants to improve thermal conductivity and insulation.  

  – Wafer Polishing: Acts as an abrasive in CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) slurries for silicon wafer surface finishing.  

8. Other Industrial Applications  

– Precipitated Silica  

  – Feed Additive: Prevents feed caking and improves flowability (e.g., pet food).  

  – Pesticide Carrier: Acts as a dispersant in wettable powders to enhance uniform efficacy.  

– Fumed Silica  

  – Lithium Batteries: Functions as a thickener in electrode slurries to prevent sedimentation (e.g., power battery production).  

  – Thermal Insulation Materials: Forms the skeletal structure in aerogels for high-temperature insulation blankets (e.g., aerospace thermal barriers).