Aerosil

Other names: Colloidal Silica

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Aerosil, also known as colloidal silica, is a form of creamy silica powder, popular for its potential uses in many different industries. By achieving a very small particle size and a high surface area of uniformly dispersed unusable particles into liquids, this material achieves excellent results in the absorption of oils and fats. It also has the ability to form gel structures in organic liquids and polymers, making it a suitable material for many different applications.

Aerosil is currently used in a wide range of products. One of its most well-known areas of use is in the cosmetics industry, where it is included in cosmetic products such as lipsticks, powders or creams, due to its adhesive properties that help fix make-up to the skin. It is also used in the automotive industry as a filler for synthetics, tyres or for the manufacture of car batteries. In the food industry it is used as a food additive with the designation E551. This material is also often used in the pharmaceutical industry as an excipient in the production of medicines. For example, it acts as an anti-caking agent and improves the fluidity of powder mixtures, thus facilitating their production and processing. Other useful properties of aerosil are its ability to improve the dispersion of pigments, for example in paints or printing inks.