Colloidal Silica
Colloidal silicas are suspensions of fine amorphous, nonporous, and typically spherical silica particles in a liquid phase. The liquid is denser than water and has been stabilized electrostatically to allow the particles to stay suspended in the solution. The silica particles are also very small and do not have a large density. The selection of a type of silica sol for a particular application mainly rests on 3 criteria – particle size, pH of the solution and concentration of the solution. Based on these, Sterling Chemicals manufactures various brands of Colloidal Silica which are tailor-made for applications ranging from investment casting to catalysts manufacturing.
Our Brands, TheMicrotec Family
The Microtecs have for long been our greatest strengths, with clients lauding the quality and consistency of the products. The Microtecs can be used for a host of applications. Please write to us to inquire if our range of products can be useful for your particular requirements.
| TYPICAL SPECIFICATIONS | |||||||
| Brand | Particle Size (nm) | Specific Surface Area (m2/g) | pH | Concentration (w/w %) | Na2O Content (w/w %) | Viscosity (cP/s) | Shelf life (months) |
| Microtec - 15 | 4-6 | 450 | 9-10.5 | 14.7-15.7 | 0.35 - 0.45 | 5 (max) | 9 |
| Microtec - 15 AC | 4-6 | 450 | 1.5-2.5 | 14.7-15.7 | 0.1 (max) | 5 (max) | 3 |
| Microtec - 20 | 5-7 | 390 | 9-10.5 | 19.5-20.5 | 0.35 - 0.45 | 5 (max) | 9 |
| Microtec - 20 AC | 5-7 | 390 | 1.5-2.5 | 19.5-20.5 | 0.1-0.2 | 5 (max) | 3 |
| Microtec - 25 | 6-8 | 340 | 9-10.5 | 24.5-25.5 | 0.35 - 0.45 | 7 (max) | 9 |
| Microtec - 25 AC | 6-8 | 340 | 1.5-2.5 | 24.5-25.5 | 0.1-0.2 | 7 (max) | 3 |
| Microtec - 30 | 9-12 | 225 | 9-10.5 | 29.5-30.5 | 0.35 - 0.45 | 7 (max) | 12 |
| Microtec - 30 N | 9-12 | 225 | 6-8 | 29.5-30.5 | 0.2 (max) | 10 (max) | 6 |
Possible Applications
- Paper-pulp production
- Investment casting
- An abrasive for polishing silicon wafers
- Catalysts manufacturing
- Moisture Absorption
- Coatings
- Increasing friction - used to coat waxed floors, textile fibers and railway tracks
- Antisoiling – fills micropores to prevent take up of dirt and other particles into textiles
- Surfactant – used for flocculating, coagulating, dispersing, stabilizing etc.
- Wine and juice fining.
- Concrete densifiers and polished concrete.