Improve Fumed Silica Processing with High Shear Mixing

Mixing Applications

Fumed Silica Dispersion

Fumed Silica (also called colloidal silica) is a fluffy white powder with an extremely low density, marketed under trade names such as Aerosil®* and Cab-o-sil®*. With both hydrophobic and hydrophilic grades available, it is widely used as a rheology modifier, imparting highly thixotropic properties at relatively low percentages. It can also provide increased tack, better stability in suspensions and prevent “sagging” and settling of solids in a liquid system. For this reason, it is particularly suitable for coatings, inks, adhesives, resins, sealants, and greases.

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Fumed silica is also used in some pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

*Registered trademarks of Evonik Industries AG and Cabot Corp. respectively

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The Process

Despite the diversity of end uses and the various processing methods and equipment used (ranging from simple agitators to milling equipment), there are a number of common processing requirements that must be satisfied in order to maximize functionality:

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• Mixing equipment must be capable of rapidly incorporating and dispersing the powder into the base liquid.
• Shear is required to obtain functionality. The dispersion equipment used has as much of an effect on the viscosity obtained as the concentration of fumed silica. This must be taken into account when formulating products or altering processing conditions.
• Vigorous in-tank movement must be maintained as the viscosity rises.