Fumed silica, also known as pyrogenic silica, is an important additive used to modify performance characteristics in a variety of coating formulations. Due to its high purity, small particle size and high surface area, fumed silica serves as a thickener, viscosity modifier, pigment extender and free flow agent. However, unsustainable manufacturing processes are used to produce fumed silica, creating additional cost, liability and environmental impact.
According to an online survey at www.pcimag.com, many paint manufacturers consider sustainability to be indispensable or very important when it comes to the manufacturing choices that they make. SioTeX Corporation has developed a sustainable alternative to provide manufacturers with a viable alternative to traditional fumed silica. Harvested from rice hulls, biogenic silica (-Eco-Sil™) exhibits the high purity, small particle size and high surface area that are necessary to achieve desired performance. Rice hulls possess an inherent structural framework of silica nanoparticles, as shown in Figure 1.