SAS can impart a versatile range of properties and functionalities. It has been safely used in a wide variety of consumer, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications for many decades.

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Consumer

In consumer applications, SAS such as silica gel, precipitated silica, or fumed silica, is used in cosmetics (e.g. as a cleaning agent in toothpastes, thickener in pastes, formulation aid in creams), in food and beverage (e.g.as an anti-caking agent in powdered foods or seasonings, as an edible oil refining processing aid, or as a stabilizer in beer and juices) and in food packaging (e.g. as a functional additive).

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Pharmaceuticals

In pharmaceutical applications, SAS such as silica gel, precipitated, or fumed silica, is used in the formulation of dosage forms (e.g. as free-flow additive, carrier, glidant, tabletting aid, or stabilizing agent). It can also be used in package desiccants to extend shelf life.

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Industrial

In industrial applications, SAS such as silica gel, precipitated silica, or fumed silica, is used as a reinforcement agent (e.g., in rubber (“Green Tire”) and silicones), as a matting agent or rheological additive (e.g. in paints, lacquers, and varnishes), to prevent plastic films from sticking, and in thermal insulations.

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Other

Colloidal silica is widely used in coatings, ink receptive papers, metal casting, refractory products, catalysts, and as a filter aid in food production, where it is removed completely at the end of the process.

Silica gel has additional broad-based uses as a desiccant and for chromatographic purification or separation.