What is Precipitated Silica?

 A form of synthetic, precipitated amorphous silica, precipitated silica is derived from quartz-sand which is a crystal form of silicon dioxide. Physical properties of this precipitated silica could be easily manipulated during the process of manufacturing it in order to deliver the products with wide range of features need to enhance the features, which are engineered for lots of different end-usage applications, such as precipitated silica for rubber.

                                            

Precipitated silica is used in many industries including:

· Precipitated silica for tyres

· Industrial rubber

· Food

· Silicone rubber

· Footwear

· Agricultural products

· Battery separator

· Adhesives and sealants

· Coatings, inks, and paints

Here is the brief of the process of how precipitated silica is manufactured:

1. Precipitation. First mineral acid and sodium silicate solution are allowed to react in agitated vessel in order to produce slurry of the amorphous silica particles. Critical physical properties of the precipitated silica like particle porosity and size are closely controlled during this particular stage of the manufacturing process by manipulating the concentration, composition, as well as ratio of the reactants in the solution that would be precipitated; the agitation speed; the reaction time; as well as the reaction temperature.

2. Washing. Then the precipitated slurry of silica is concentrated in order to form filter cake. This cake is then washed off to get rid of salt byproduct.

3. Drying. The filter cake is further dried to a desired moisture content of final product of precipitated silica for tyres, for instance.

4. Finishing and packaging. Finally, the dried, precipitated silica is finished in order to achieve the desired end-use product. It may include – compaction or agglomeration into low-dust form, or classification to required size distribution of particle.