Colloidal Silica

Colloidal Silica: Ensure Optimum Stability and Performance

Colloidal Silicas are dense amorphous particles. Stability of colloidal Silica is largely dependent upon three factors – particle size, pH and silica concentration. Although storage temperature can affect stability, this article focuses on the manufacture of colloidal silica and the importance of uniformity and purity to ensure optimum stability and performance.

Colloidal Silica Performance – Particle Size versus Reactivity

Depending on your specific application, colloidal silica particle size can be varied to improve reactivity. For example, in applications requiring improved reactivity, smaller colloidal silica particles would be required. The challenge is finding a supplier that can maintain uniform colloidal silica particles from batch to batch in the concentrations appropriate for your application.

Klebosol, for example, can be manufactured to suit a wide variety of applications from concrete & mortar and polishing applications, to food & beverage and coatings or paint. Colloidal silica in the Klebosol line can be produced in particle sizes ranging from as large as 80nm to as small as 9nm and with silica concentrations ranging from 30 percent to 50 percent based on particle size.

Batteries	Beverage	Catalysis	Concrete & Mortar	Cosmetics
Inkjet Paper	Investment Casting	Leather	Pigment	Plastic
Polishing	Surface Treatment for Metal, Paint & Paper	Textile	Refractory

Colloidal Silica Performance – Achieving Opimum pH and Stability

The stability of a colloidal Silica formulation is influenced by silica particle size, concentration and pH. Stability is ensured thanks to electrostatic repulsion, most often the silica surface is anionic. The negative charges causes individual silica particles to repel each other and results in a highly stable suspension. pH can affect stability of colloidal silica formulations. For example, lowering the pH value can decrease stabilty, particularly in the pH range of 4 to 7, in which gelling can occur. A pH above 11.5, can result in the generation of silicate, which flocculates. Klebosol colloidal silica can also be formulated with a patented neutral pH.

Which Colloidal Silica Formulation is Right for Your Application?

A convenient chart covers the colloidal silica properties for several main applications including, batteries, beverage, catalysis, concrete & mortar, cosmetics, inkjet paper, investment casting, leather, pigment, plastic, polishing, refractory, surface treatment and textile. Depending on your application the optimum colloidal sillica formulation can improve the efficiency with which you manufacture your products and the overall quality of the products themselves. For example, in a paper manufacturing application, colloidal silica can reduce slippage during stacking and while the paper is on the conveyor belt. And in a pigment application, the appropriate colloidal silica formulation can improve thermal resistance and dispersability.

However, there's no substitute for talking to an expert. Contact your Klebolsol colloidal silica representative today and learn how you can ensure optimum stability and performance in your application.