Colloidal Silica: Tailored Nanoparticle Solutions for Diverse Applications
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Colloidal Silica: Tailored Nanoparticle Solutions for Diverse Applications

Alfa Chemistry: Your Trusted Partner in Advanced Colloidal Materials

Colloidal silica, a stable dispersion of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles in liquid media, is a cornerstone of nanotechnology and industrial innovation. At Alfa Chemistry, we engineer colloidal silica particles with precision, offering uniform size distribution, exceptional stability, and tailored surface functionalities. Our products serve industries ranging from electronics and coatings to biomedical research and catalysis, empowering breakthroughs in material science and engineering.

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Overview of Colloidal Silica

Definition

Colloidal silica consists of fine, amorphous, and typically spherical silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles dispersed in a liquid, most commonly water. These particles, ranging in size from 2 nm to 150 nm, form stable suspensions due to their surface charge, which prevents aggregation and settling. The random distribution of [SiO4] tetrahedra within each particle distinguishes amorphous colloidal silica from crystalline forms like quartz.

Features

  • High purity and uniformity
  • Large specific surface area
  • Excellent chemical and thermal stability
  • Adjustable surface chemistry

Comprehensive Product Portfolio: Refined Classification of Colloidal Silica

Our colloidal silica range is meticulously categorized to meet diverse industrial and research needs:

1.By Chemical Type & Surface Modification

Acidic Silica Sol

Particle Sizes: 9–130 nm (e.g., 10–15 nm, 70–90 nm)

Solid Content: 24–31%

Low Sodium Variants: Na ≤0.05–0.08% (ideal for electronics and optics).

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Ammonium-Type Silica Sol

Particle Sizes: 7–130 nm (e.g., 8–12 nm, 18–22 nm with Na<60 ppm).

High-Purity Options: Solid content up to 41%, tailored for catalysis and coatings.

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Cationic Silica Sol

Particle Sizes: 9–80 nm (e.g., 11–13 nm, 80 nm).

Applications: Adhesives, surface modification, and charge-stabilized systems.

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Low-Sodium Silica Sol

Ultra-Low Contaminants: Na<35 ppm (e.g., 19–21 nm, 75–85 nm).

Critical for biomedical and semiconductor applications.

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High-Purity Silica Sol

Particle Sizes: 6–120 nm with pH ranges 2.3–10.0.

Concentration Options: 20–40 wt.% for precision casting and optical films.

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Modified Silica Sol

Functionalized Surfaces: Amino, epoxy, PEGylated, or hydrophobic coatings.

Custom Solvents: Isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, epoxy resins, and more.

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Specialty Products

Hollow Silica Nanospheres: 80–100 nm diameter, >99.9% purity (targeted drug delivery, lightweight composites).

Quick-Drying Silica Sol: 7–15 nm, solid content 28–32% (rapid-coating formulations).

Featured Products

CatalogProduct NamePrice
ACM112945525-11Fumed silica, hydrophobic, specific surface area: 200 m2/gInquiry
ACM112945525-15Hydrophilic fumed nano-silica, specific surface area (BET): 380m2/gInquiry
ACM112945525-9Fumed silica, hydrophilic, specific surface area: 400 m2/gInquiry
ACM7631869-32Hollow Silica Nanospheres Dispersion (SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 80-100nm)Inquiry
ACM7631869-37Nano silica water dispersion (SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 10nm, 20 wt.%)Inquiry
ACM7631869-43Silica Dispersion (SiO2, Aqueous Dispersion, Amorphous)Inquiry
ACM7631869-47Silicone sol(SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 12nm(lock), Solvent: Isopropyl alcohol)Inquiry
ACM7631869-48Silicone sol(SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 12nm(lock), Solvent: Methyl ethyl ketone)Inquiry
ACM7631869-49Silicone sol(SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 12nm(lock), Solvent: Propylene Glycol Monopropyl Ether)Inquiry
ACM7631869-50Silicone sol(SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 12nm, Solvent: Bisphenol F epoxy resin,30 wt.%)Inquiry
ACM7631869-52Silicone sol(SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 12nm, Solvent: Dimethylacetamide)Inquiry
ACM7631869-53Silicone sol(SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 12nm, Solvent: Ethyl acetate)Inquiry
ACM7631869-54Silicone sol(SiO2, Purity: >99.9%, Diameter: 12nm, Solvent: Ethylene glycol monopropyl ether)Inquiry
ACMA00017372Acidic silica sol, diameter : 10-15 nm, solid content : 24-26 %Inquiry
ACMA00022715Acidic silica sol, diameter : 70-90 nm, Na : ≤0.05 %Inquiry
ACMA00022719Ammonium type silica sol, diameter : 10-15 nmInquiry
ACMA00022731Cationic silica sol, diameter : 11-13 nmInquiry
ACMA00022736Enhanced silica sol, diameter : 10-15 nmInquiry
ACMA00022740High-purity silica sol, Diameter : 10 nm, pH = 2.4Inquiry
ACMA00022754Large particle size silica sol, diameter : 100 nmInquiry
ACMA00022776Low sodium silica sol, diameter : 10-15 nm, Na ≤ 0.15 %Inquiry
ACMA00022800Neutral silica sol, diameter : 11-13 nmInquiry
ACMA00022804Potassium type silica sol, diameter : 18-22 nmInquiry
ACMA00022835Sodium silica sol, diameter : 4-6 nmInquiry

2. By Particle Size

CategorySize RangeKey Applications
Ultra-Small 2–10 nm Drug delivery, nanocomposites, sensors
Small 10–50 nm Catalysis, optical coatings
Intermediate 50–100 nm Adhesives, abrasives, UV resins
Large 100–130 nm Precision casting, thick-film coatings

3. By Solvent & Formulation

  • Aqueous Dispersions: pH-adjusted (2–12), solid content 10–50 wt.%.
  • Organic Solvent-Based: Ethanol, isopropanol, toluene, cyclohexanone, and specialty resins.
  • Low-VOC Formulations: Propylene glycol ethers, dimethylacetamide for eco-friendly processes.

Application & Industry of Colloidal Silica

Construction & Infrastructure

  • High-Performance Concrete Additives
  • Asphalt Modifiers
  • Lightweight Insulation Materials

Electronics & Energy

  • Dielectric Coatings
  • Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes
  • Hydrogen Storage

Biomedical & Agriculture

  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Agricultural Nanocarriers

Coatings & Polymers

  • Anti-Scratch Automotive Coatings
  • Self-Healing Materials

Application-Driven Selection Guide

IndustryRecommended ProductCritical Parameters
Electronics Low-sodium silica sol (e.g., 20 nm, Na<35 ppm) Ultra-pure, solvent-based, pH 4–8
Biomedical PEGylated silica (10 nm, aqueous dispersion)<20 nm, cytotoxicity-tested
Automotive Coatings 80 nm silica in UV-curable resin High scratch resistance, flexibility
Catalysis Ammonium-type silica sol (10–15 nm, 39–41% solid content) High surface area, thermal stability
Energy Storage Hollow silica nanospheres (80–100 nm) Low density, high porosity

Why Alfa Chemistry?

Unmatched Expertise

5+ Years in colloidal nanotechnology.

ISO 9001-Certified Production

Rigorous QC, batch-to-batch consistency.

Global Reach

Fast shipping with temperature-controlled packaging.

Dedicated R&D Support

From formulation optimization to scale-up.

What Our Clients Say

Alfa Chemistry's colloidal silica has been a game-changer for our nanocomposite research. The customized 10 nm PEGylated silica particles demonstrated exceptional stability in our drug delivery system, and the technical support team provided invaluable formulation advice. Truly a partner we can rely on.

Dr. Emily Carter

Senior Materials Scientist

We've sourced colloidal silica from multiple suppliers, but Alfa Chemistry's 5 nm silica aqueous dispersion outperformed others in dielectric film uniformity. Their reliable quality control eliminated defects in our semiconductor production line.

Linda Rodriguez

Procurement Manager

The 80 nano-silica sol can prevent agglomeration and sagging in our coating formulations. Alfa Chemistry's custom solvent formulation (MEK-based) integrated seamlessly with our existing process. A clear competitive edge!

Sarah Nguyen

Coating Development Engineer

FAQs About Colloidal Silica

Q: How do I select between acidic and ammonium-type silica sol?

A: Acidic variants (pH 2–4) perform best for metal surface treatments while ammonium types (pH 8–10) function optimally in catalysis and alkaline settings.

Q: Can I request custom solvent formulations?

A: Yes! We offer silica sols in over 20 solvents, including MEK, NMP, and epoxy resins.

Q: What is the shelf life of your products?

A: 12–24 months when stored at 4–25°C. Organic solvent-based dispersions typically have longer stability. Please refer to the specific product description.

Q: How does nano silica improve asphalt durability?

A: Enhances binder-aggregate adhesion, reducing thermal cracking.

Q: What is the difference between colloidal and precipitated nano silica?

A: Colloidal = liquid dispersion; precipitated = dry powder with higher surface area.

Q: What are the production and dispersion methods of nano-silica?

  • Nano-silica is primarily produced via sol-gel (controlled hydrolysis of silicon alkoxides), precipitation (acid-base reaction of sodium silicate), pyrogenic synthesis (flame combustion of SiCl4), or microemulsion (nanoreactor-based growth).
  • Ultrasonication, mechanical mixing, surface modification methods like silane grafting, pH adjustment, and high-pressure homogenization are dispersion methods that create stable suspensions free of agglomerates.

Through careful application these methods achieve precise control over particle dimensions as well as purity and compatibility standards. Alfa Chemistry delivers specialized synthesis services alongside optimized dispersion solutions designed for unique industrial requirements.

Our Services: Colloidal Silica Modification

Q: Can nano silica replace carbon black in tires?

A: Yes! Silica reduces rolling resistance, improving fuel efficiency.

Q: How does nano silica compare to silica fume in concrete?

A: Nano silica (10–50 nm) offers higher reactivity and surface area than silica fume (100–500 nm), enabling lower dosages and better performance.

Q: Can I use colloidal silica in 3D printing resins?

A: Yes! Our 20–50 nm dispersions improve resin viscosity and part strength.

Q: What causes silica nanoparticles to aggregate?

A: High ionic strength or pH shifts. Electrosteric stabilization prevents this—ask our team for formulation tips.

Frontier Information: Let "failed drugs" play again? Nano-SiO2 materials enhance drug solubility

(Zhuo Xu, et al. 2025)

The pharmaceutical industry reports that between 60% and 70% of candidate drugs in development face low solubility issues that significantly obstruct clinical trial success and commercialization. Xu Zhuo with his team created a novel nano-silica material through physical adsorption to address this fundamental issue. The advanced material features nano-colloidal silica spheres that offer an extremely high specific surface area. Through special treatment methods, the density of silanol groups on the surface of the material has reached more than four times that of ordinary silica materials. Using competitive adsorption strategies, the solubility of poorly soluble drugs may be increased by two to three orders of magnitude, converting water molecules from obstacles to catalysts for drug dissolution. This research provides a new solution to the problem of bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.

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Transform Your Industry with Precision Nano Solutions

Contact Alfa Chemistry Today for Customized Colloidal Silica!

Reference

  1. Xu, Zhuo, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025, 122(4), e2423426122.
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