Fumed silica

Fumed silica (CAS number 112945-52-5), 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. Its three-dimensional structure results in viscosity-increasing, thixotropic behavior when used as a thickener or reinforcing filler.[1]

Not to be confused with silica fume.
"Aerosil" redirects here. It is not to be confused with aerosol.
Fumed silica with surface area of 130 m2/g

Properties

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.

Production

Fumed silica is made from flame pyrolysis of silicon tetrachloride or from quartz sand vaporized in a 3000 °C electric arc.[2] Major global producers are Evonik (who sells it under the name Aerosil), Cabot Corporation (Cab-O-Sil), Wacker Chemie (HDK), Dow Corning, Heraeus (Zandosil), Tokuyama Corporation (Reolosil), OCI (Konasil), Orisil (Orisil) and Xunyuchem(XYSIL)[3].

Applications

Fumed silica serves as a universal thickening agent and an anticaking agent (free-flow agent) in powders. Like silica gel, it serves as a desiccant. It is used in cosmetics for its light-diffusing properties. It 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.

It is also used in the production of cat litter box filler and as a core material in the production of vacuum insulated panels. Moreover, Fumed silica nanoparticles can potentially be used as efficient anti-aging coatings in asphalt pavements.[4]

Health issues

Fumed silica is not listed as a carcinogen by OSHA, IARC, or NTP. Due to its fineness and thinness, fumed silica can easily become airborne, making it an inhalation risk, capable of causing irritation.

gollark: By some estimates, 3% of our processing power is spent on accounting.
gollark: No.
gollark: I tripped on one of the power cables and accidentally sent a few of them into ideatic apiospace.
gollark: Probably.
gollark: I think some of them protrude slightly into the fourth dimension.

See also

References
  1. Flörke, Otto W.; Graetsch, Heribert A.; Brunk, Fred; Benda, Leopold; Paschen, Siegfried; Bergna, Horacio E.; Roberts, William O.; Welsh, William A.; Libanati, Cristian; Ettlinger, Manfred; Kerner, Dieter; Maier, Monika; Meon, Walter; Schmoll, Ralf; Gies, Hermann; Schiffmann, Dietmar (15 April 2008). "Silica". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry: a23_583.pub3. doi:10.1002/14356007.a23_583.pub3.
  2. Garrett, P.R. (1992). Defoaming. Theory and Industrial applications. USA: CRC Press. pp. 239–240. ISBN 0-8247-8770-6.
  3. Fumed Silica Manufacturer Overview
  4. Cheraghian, Goshtasp; Wistuba, Michael P. (8 July 2020). "Ultraviolet aging study on bitumen modified by a composite of clay and fumed silica nanoparticles". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 1–17. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68007-0.
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