Effects and Applications

Thickening and Thixotropy

Pyrogenic silica is particularly important for controlling the flow and spread of paints and coatings, adhesives and

sealants, unsaturated polyester resins, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Reinforcement

Natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers and silicone elastomers must be reinforced with active fillers to give them the desired mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break and tear resistance (notch resistance). The required system properties can be individually tailored by means of the active filler pyrogenic silica.

Free-Flow agents

Pyrogenic silica significantly improves the flow properties of powdery substances. In many areas, such as bulk goods, fire extinguishers, powders for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, foods, animal feed, toners for photocopiers and powder paints in industrial and automotive coatings.

Thermal Insulation

Pyrogenic silica has outstanding thermal insulation properties, up to over 1,000°C at room temperature. Typical

applications include vacuum insulation panels (building thermal insulation, insulation of refrigerators), radiant heaters in cooktops, car exhaust systems or fire safety systems for buildings.

Chemical-Mechanical Planarizing

Production of semiconductor devices requires submicroscopic, multilayered structures comprising silicon, silicon

dioxide, tungsten, copper and other materials. CMP slurries of pyrogenic silica serve as abrasive particles in the

manufacture of such semiconductor devices.