Fumed Silica: Versatile Nanoscale Material for Modern Industry | Innovative Solutions for Reinforcement, Thickening, and Anti-Sedimentation | Leading the Way in Performance and Quality Standards

创建于02.27

Fumed Silica: The Industrial "Jack-of-All-Trades" among Nanoscale Materials

Fumed silica (vapor-phase silica white) is a nanoscale inorganic material synthesized through the high-temperature hydrolysis of halosilanes in a hydrogen-oxygen flame. It features a small particle size (primary particle size ranging from 7 to 40 nm), a large specific surface area (100 - 400 m²/g), and high surface activity. Its unique three-dimensional dendritic structure and hydrogen bond network endow it with "versatile" properties such as reinforcement, thickening, thixotropy, and anti-sedimentation, making it the "hidden champion" of modern industry.

I. Core Structure and Performance Advantages

Three-dimensional Network Structure

Fumed silica is formed by the fusion of primary particles (7 - 40 nm) into aggregates (200 - 500 nm), which then form flocculent agglomerates through physical adsorption. This structure can be disrupted and reorganized under shear force, imparting thixotropy to the material (for example, preventing sagging in coatings and adhesives).

Surface Activity

Residual silanol groups (Si - OH) on the particle surface can form hydrogen bonds or react with modifiers. Unmodified hydrophilic type (Type A) is easily soluble in water, while hydrophobic type (Type B), after being modified with silazanes, etc., has a contact angle > 150°, making it suitable for oily systems.

Performance Parameter Comparison

Index Domestic Leading Enterprises (e.g., Lianhong Xinke) European and American Enterprises (e.g., Heraeus)

Particle Size Distribution ±3 nm (patented control technology) ±8 nm

Specific Surface Area 200 - 300 m²/g 150 - 220 m²/g

Surface Modification In-situ Hydrophobicity (contact angle > 150°) Post-treatment Hydrophobicity

Price (yuan/ton) 25,000 - 35,000 80,000 - 120,000

II. Classification and Application Scenarios

Hydrophilic Type (Type A)

Applications: Reinforcement of silicone rubber (increasing tear resistance by 30%), thickening of coatings, anti-caking agent in food (for milk powder/coffee), and thixotropic agent in cosmetics (preventing caking in foundation).
Case: Dairy enterprises like Danone and Nestlé have replaced traditional anti-caking agents with it, and their export volume has surged by 120%.

Hydrophobic Type (Type B)

Applications: Coating for lithium battery separators (Ningde Times' tests show a 40% increase in cycle life), sealing adhesive for 5G base stations, anti-sedimentation in powder coatings, and UV resistance in organic glass.
Technical Breakthrough: Domestic hydrophobic fumed silica uses AI algorithms to control the flame field, achieving a particle size uniformity of ±5 nm, with performance comparable to international products.

III. Surface Modification Technology

With modifiers such as silazanes and chlorosilanes, the surface properties can be precisely regulated:

Hydrophobic Modification: The contact angle increases from 70° to over 150°, making it suitable for oily systems (such as inks and coatings).
Functional Modification: By grafting photoinitiators or quantum dots, photo-electric-thermal responsive materials can be developed for applications in intelligent coatings and chip heat dissipation.

IV. Industry Trends and Standards

Accelerated Domestic Substitution: China's production capacity accounts for 35% of the global total. The export of high-end products has increased by 87% annually, and the price is only 60% of that of imports.
Standard Setting: China has presided over the formulation of ISO 18473-3 "Fumed Silica for Silicone Rubber", promoting products to enter the high-end market.

Fumed silica is evolving from an "industrial flavor enhancer" to a "nanoscale solution", covering more than 800 fields such as rubber, new energy, and cosmetics. Its surface area per gram is equivalent to a football field, and its adsorption performance is beyond imagination.

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