Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) is a general term for silicon oxides in chemistry, widely found in nature (e.g., quartz, sand, crystal) and can also be prepared synthetically. Depending on structure and morphology, silicon dioxide can be categorized into crystalline forms (e.g., quartz) and amorphous forms (non-crystalline).
White Carbon Black , a colloquial term for synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide, derives its name from its reinforcing properties similar to carbon black but with a white color. It is primarily produced via precipitation or vapor-phase methods, characterized by high surface area, porosity, and surface reactivity. While white carbon black falls under the umbrella of silicon dioxide, it specifically refers to amorphous silicon dioxide synthesized through specialized processes for functional applications.
Though chemically related, white carbon black and silicon dioxide differ in structure, properties, and applications, as detailed below:
1. Chemical Composition
White Carbon Black : A form of amorphous silicon dioxide composed primarily of SiO2, often containing trace moisture and impurities.
Silicon Dioxide :A chemical compound with the formula SiO2,existing in both crystalline (e.g., quartz, crystal) and amorphous states. Crystalline silicon dioxide exhibits an ordered atomic lattice, while amorphous silicon dioxide lacks long-range structural order.
2. Structural Characteristics
White Carbon Black :Features a highly dispersed amorphous structure with spherical or near-spherical nanoparticles (typically 10–100 nm in diameter) and a large specific surface area.
Silicon Dioxide : Crystalline silicon dioxide : Ordered atomic arrangement (e.g., quartz has a hexagonal crystal lattice). Amorphous silicon dioxide : Disordered atomic structure without defined crystallinity.
3. Physical Properties
White Carbon Black : White powder or granules, lightweight, with high dispersibility, large specific surface area, strong adsorption capacity, and reinforcing properties.
Insoluble in water and acids (except hydrofluoric acid), heat-resistant, and electrically insulating.
Silicon Dioxide :Crystalline silica : High hardness and melting point.
Amorphous silicon dioxide : Generally lower hardness and melting point than crystalline forms, with properties varying by synthesis method.
4. Production Methods
White Carbon Black : There are mainly two production processes: vapor phase method and precipitation method. The vapor phase method is to use halosilane hydrolyzed at high temperature to generate white carbon black with high purity, small particle size and large specific surface area; the precipitation method is to get white carbon black through the reaction between soluble silicate and acid, and after precipitation, filtration, drying and other processes, which has lower cost and is widely used.
Silicon dioxide : crystalline silicon dioxide is mainly obtained by mining natural quartz ore, etc., after beneficiation, purification and other processes to get different purity products. In addition to the above production methods of white carbon black , amorphous silicon dioxide could also be prepared through some other methods such as sol-gel method.
5. Applications
White Carbon Black : It is widely used in rubber, plastic, coating, ink, paper making, food, medicine and other industries. In the rubber industry, as a reinforcing agent it can improve the strength of rubber products, abrasion resistance and anti-aging properties; in coatings and ink industry it can play a role in thickening, anti-settling, glossiness improvement; in the field of food and medicine, it can be used as anticaking agents, carriers and so on.
Silicon dioxide : Crystalline silicon dioxide is commonly used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, refractory materials, electronic components. For example, quartz glass has good optical properties, it can be used in the manufacture of optical instruments,to manufacture quartz crucible in the manufacturing of semiconductor chip, etc.; in ceramic industry, silicon dioxide is one of the important raw materials, it can improve the hardness of ceramics and high temperature performance. In addition to sharing some applications with white carbon black , amorphous silicon dioxide also plays critical roles as catalyst supports and adsorbents, making it a vital material in scientific research.
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Post time: Apr-23-2025