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For over 70 years Aerosil Fumed Silica has been a market leading brand of fumed silica.
With a unique range of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic grades available the number of applications are endless.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is composed of synthetic silicon dioxide (SiO2) which is entirely amorphous, eliminating the risks posed by crystalline silica.
CAS number: 7631-86-9
Synonyms
SILICON DIOXIDE;Silica;Dioxosilane;7631-86-9;Silicic anhydride;Diatomaceous silica;Wessalon;Zorbax sil;Silica, amorphous;Silica,colloidal;Sillikolloid;Extrusil;Santocel;Sipernat;Acticel;Carplex;Neosil;Neosyl;Porasil;Silikil;Siloxid;Zipax;Aerosil 380;colloidal silica;White carbon;Silicone dioxide;Cab-o-sil M-5;Vulkasil S;Snowtex O;Corasil II;Tokusil TPLM;Dri-Die;Manosil vn 3;Ultrasil VH 3;Ultrasil VN 3;Carplex 30;Carplex 80;Snowtex 30;Zeofree 80;Aerosil K 7;Min-U-Sil;Syton 2X;Positive sol 232;Aerogel 200;Aerosil 300;Amorphous silica dust;Ludox hs 40;Silanox 101;Vitasil 220;Positive sol 130M;Silicon dioxide (amorphous);Aerosil A 300;Aerosil E 300;Silicon dioxide, fumed;Nalfloc N 1050;Quso 51;Quso G 30;Aerosil 200;Sg-67;CHEBI:30563
One of the main applications for Aerosil Fumed Silica is increasing the viscosity, pseudoplasticity and thixotropy of a wide range of liquid systems.
However there are many more applications besides this common use case.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is the most extensive range of fumed silica on the market, with many of their products tailored for particular applications.
The versatility of AEROSIL means that Aerosil Fumed Silica can be found all around us, from the paints on our walls to the fertilizers on our crops. Read on to find out more about this exciting product range.
Aerosil Fumed Silica, also known as pyrogenic silica because it is produced in a flame, consists of microscopic droplets of amorphous silica fused into branched, chainlike, three-dimensional secondary particles which then agglomerate into tertiary particles.
The resulting powder has an extremely low bulk density and high surface area.
Aerosil Fumed Silica's three-dimensional structure results in viscosity-increasing, thixotropic behavior when used as a thickener or reinforcing filler.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is an ultra-fine powder used to increase the viscosity (thickness) of resin systems.
Adding a small amount of fumed silica to epoxy resin will significantly increase the thixotropic properties of the resin, effectively turning it into a gelcoat and allowing it to cling to sides of steep moulds without running.
Silicon dioxide occurs almost everywhere on earth.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is one of the most important and abundant oxides on earth, constituting about 60% weight of the earth’s crust as silica itself or in combination with other metal oxides in silicates.
Aerosil Fumed Silica commonly is found as sand in the vast ocean and river shores, their beds, deserts, rocks, and minerals.
Aerosil Fumed Silica exists in several structural forms: polymorphic crystalline silica, synthetic quartz crystals, amorphous silica, and vitreous silica.
This classification is not complete as there are other forms of silica synthesized for specialized applications.
Properties
Aerosil Fumed Silica has a very strong thickening effect.
Primary particle size is 5–50 nm.
The particles are non-porous and have a surface area of 50–600 m2/g.
The density is 160–190 kg/m3.
Colorless amorphous (i.e., fused silica) or crystalline (i.e., quartz) material having a low thermal expansion coefficient and excellent optical transmittance in far UV.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is insoluble in strong mineral acids and alkalis except HF, concentrated H3PO4, NH4 HF2 , concentrated alkali metal hydroxides.
Owing to its good corrosion resistance to liquid metals such as Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Ga, In, Tl, Rb, Bi, and Cd, Aerosil Fumed Silica is used as crucible container for melting these metals, while silica is readily attacked in an inert atmosphere by molten metals such as Li, Na, K Mg, and Al.
Quartz crystals are piezoelectric and pyroelectric.
Maximum service temperature 1090°C.
Applications
Aerosil Fumed Silica serves as a universal thickening agent and an anticaking agent (free-flow agent) in powders.
Like silica gel, Aerosil Fumed Silica serves as a desiccant.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is used in cosmetics for its light-diffusing properties.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is used as a light abrasive, in products like toothpaste.
Other uses include filler in silicone elastomer and viscosity adjustment in paints, coatings, printing inks, adhesives and unsaturated polyester resins.
Aerosil Fumed Silica readily forms a network structure within bitumen and enhances its elasticity.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is also known as silicone dioxide.
Aerosil Fumed Silica has a variety of applications: to control a product’s viscosity, add bulk, and reduce a formulation’s transparency.
Aerosil Fumed Silica can also function as an abrasive.
In addition, Aerosil Fumed Silica can act as a carrier for emollients, and may be used to improve a formulation’s skin feel.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is porous and highly absorbent, with absorption capabilities roughly 1.5 times its weight.
A typical claim associated with silica is oil control.
Aerosil Fumed Silica is found in sunscreens, scrubs, and wide range of other skin care, makeup, and hair care preparations.
Aerosil Fumed Silica has been successfully used in hypoallergenic and allergy-tested formulations.
Purification Methods
Purification of silica for high technology applications uses isopiestic vapour distillation from concentrated volatile acids and is absorbed in high purity water.
The impurities remain behind.
Preliminary cleaning to remove surface contaminants uses dip etching in HF or a mixture of HCl, H2O2 and deionised water.
Health issues
Aerosil Fumed Silica is not listed as a carcinogen by OSHA, IARC, or NTP.
Due to its fineness and thinness, Aerosil Fumed Silica can easily become airborne, making it an inhalation hazard capable of causing irritation.
