Aerosil 200 ex Evonik VS Cab-O-Sil M5

Created on 02.09

Aerosil 200 ex Evonik VS Cab-O-Sil M5

Food & Pharma Grade Fumed Silica | Head-to-Head Comparison

Both are benchmark hydrophilic fumed silica (BET ~200 m²/g) with global food/pharma compliance, widely used as anti-caking agent, glidant, stabilizer and excipient. Below is a concise, fact-based comparison focused on food & pharmaceutical performance, strengths, weaknesses and best-use fit.

Comparison infographic of Aerosil 200 and Cab-O-Sil M5

Core Commonality

Core commonalities between Aerosil 200 and Cab-O-Sil M5

• Standard BET surface area: 175–225 m²/g; high purity SiO₂ ≥99.8%

• Global regulatory compliance: FDA 21 CFR, EU E551, FCC, Kosher/Halal

• Core functions: anti-caking, powder flow improvement, rheology stabilization, suspension stability

• Dominant global supply with consistent demand in Europe, North America and APAC (including China)

Aerosil 200 (Evonik) | Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

Strengths and weaknesses of Aerosil 200 and Cab-O-Sil M5

• Superior pharma-grade certification: Full compliance with USP/NF, EP, JP; stricter microbial (TAMC/TYMC) and heavy-metal control, ideal for pharmaceutical excipients (tablets, capsules, oral solids)

• Higher chemical inertness & API compatibility; better stability for sensitive formulations (vitamins, antibiotics, neutraceuticals)

• Tighter batch-to-batch consistency; lower dusting in dense grades (200 VS) for clean pharma production

• Preferred in high-end pharma, infant formula, and regulated EU/US pharmaceutical markets

Weaknesses

• Slightly higher cost basis

• Moderate dispersion speed in high-solids systems vs. M5

Cab-O-Sil M5 (Cabot) | Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

• Faster, easier dispersion; better flowability in low-shear processing; minimal impact on product gloss/color

• Stronger performance in food applications (powdered drinks, seasonings, dairy, bakery mixes) with lower dosage for anti-caking

• More cost-effective; wider availability in regional food-grade supply chains

• Preferred in large-scale food manufacturing, OTC oral solids, and cost-sensitive regulated applications

Weaknesses

• Pharma certification coverage is slightly narrower (focused on USP/NF/FCC)

• Slightly looser purity tolerance vs. Aerosil 200 for ultra-sensitive injectable/excipient grades

Regulatory & Application Fit Summary

Item	Aerosil 200	Cab-O-Sil M5
Best For	Pharma excipients, infant formula, high-purity food, EU/US regulated pharma	General food, OTC drugs, large-batch food processing, cost-efficient flow aid
Compliance Edge	USP/EP/JP full pharma monographs, ultra-low impurities	FCC/FDA strong, food-optimized, easy global logistics
Processing	Low dust, high consistency, API-friendly	Fast dispersion, easy handling, high throughput

Final Verdict

• Choose Aerosil 200 for pharmaceutical formulations, high-purity food, strict regulatory (EP/JP) and sensitive API systems where purity and consistency are critical.

• Choose Cab-O-Sil M5 for general food manufacturing, OTC tablets/capsules, high-volume production and cost-efficient flow/anti-caking where dispersion and throughput matter most.

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