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Silica

Given below are some of the functions of precipitated silica.
1. The silica can be used for tire rolling resistance reduction and tire wet grip improvement.
2. Added into the raw materials for making shoes, joints, pipes and tires, etc. to improve modulus, tear strength and abrasion resistance, etc.
3. Silica can also be used as thickening agent for manufacturing glue, varnish, industrial paint, and toothpaste, etc.
4. Used for improving the transparency of toothpaste, silicone and shoe soles.
5. Silica can also be used as free-flow and anti-caking agent for powders.
Hence, it is commonly used for manufacturing of organic and inorganic chemicals, and human and animal nutrition.
6. Added into raw materials for making paper and paints, silica also serves to improve whiteness.

Manufacturing Process
Precipitated silica is achieved by neutralizing a sodium silicate solution with an acid, typically sulfuric acid. The by-product, sodium sulfate, is finally eliminated through filtration. Then, dry the remaining silica, and finally finish the dried silica in variety of ways according to its final applications. The precipitation stage creates the microscopic particle structure which determines the silica's application properties.

Precipitation, filtration, drying and finishing are the four key steps of silica production.

1. Precipitation
During the precipitation stage, silica properties may be varied through changes in composition and ratio of reactants, reaction time, temperature and concentration. For instance, physical properties like structure, chemical properties like PH value and silanol group density, and optical properties like whiteness and transparency, etc. are all resulted from the precipitation process.
2. Filtration
Salts formed during the precipitation stage are washed out during filtration. Most of the water is eliminated at that stage. Filtration controls the final purity of silica.
3. Drying
After filtration, the silica is then dried. Dewatering process is necessary to maintain the desired silica application performance.
4. Finishing
Finally, the dried silica can be finished in a variety of ways to reduce the size of the particles formed during the drying process. Sinchem precipitated silicas are stored in silos before being bulk loaded or packaged for shipment to customers.