SAS APPLICATIONS
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.



