Downloads (3)

Safety Datasheet (SDS)456 KB
Dutch Safety DataSheet362 KB
Technical DataSheet (TDS)271 KB

Specification

Product Data
ColourWhite
FormatPowder
Compatible With
Compatible WithEpoxyYes
Compatible WithPolyesterYes
Compatible WithVinylesterYes
Compatible WithPolyurethaneYes
General Properties
Gross Weight0.093kg

Shipping Information

Restrictions

This product is not classed as dangerous goods for transport and can be shipped to all destinations without restriction.

Shipping to EU countries is now done through our European subsidiary based in the Netherlands. All EU customers should use www.easycomposites.eu.

Package Size

There are no package size restrictions or surcharges for this product.

Delivery Cost

To find the delivery cost of this item to your address, add it to your basket and then use the instant shipping calculator on the basket page.

Fumed Silica Thixotropic Powder

Aerosil® 200 fumed silica is an ultra-fine powder additive that can be added to resin and gelcoats to make them more thixotropic. Also known as colloidal silica, fumed silica can be used to transform epoxy or polyester resin into a thick gelcoat or, with the addition of glass bubbles, into a lightweight filler.

Available to buy online in 45g (1L), 225g (5L) or 450g (10L) packs.


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AVAILABILITY:More than 10 availablefor immediate shipping


PRICE
£4.00ex. VAT
(£88.89 /KG)
More than 10 availablefor immediate shipping
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Aerosil® 200 Fumed Silica is an ultra-fine powder used to increase the viscosity (thickness) of resin systems. Adding a small amount of fumed silica to epoxy resin will significantly increase the thixotropic properties of the resin, effectively turning it into a gelcoat and allowing it to cling to sides of steep moulds without running.

Typical Uses

Our Fumed Silica Thixotropic Powder is compatible with all popular resin systems, including polyurethane, epoxy and polyester.

How to Buy

Our Fumed Silica Thixotropic Powder is sold by volume and is available in 1litre (45g), 5litre (225g) and 10litre (450g) pack sizes. Please choose the pack size you require from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss larger quantities.

Further Information

How to Use Fumed (Colloidal) Silica

Fumed Silica requires significant agitation (stirring) to become fully mixed into a resin. Use of a mechanical stirrer will make the process quicker and easier but manual mixing is perfectly possible. For maximum effect, allow the Fumed Silica to soak in the resin for as much as a day before thorough mixing.

Fumed Silica added to resin at a ratio of 0.7% - 1% (by weight) will produce a thixotropic resin. 2-3% will produce a gelcoat consistency. Percentages up to 3%+ can be used to make a filler paste (additional filler powders may be required).

Please note the addition of Fumed Silica will reduce the clarity of clear resin systems meaning it is not ideal for turning clear laminating resin into a clear gelcoat.

Safety

Fumed Silica particles are incredibly small and light and will become airborne as soon as the material is scooped, moved or mixed. Always wear protective gloves and a dust mask when handling this product in its raw state.

Aerosil® 200 Fumed Silica is an ultra-fine powder used to increase the viscosity (thickness) of resin systems. Adding a small amount of fumed silica to epoxy resin will significantly increase the thixotropic properties of the resin, effectively turning it into a gelcoat and allowing it to cling to sides of steep moulds without running.

Typical Uses

Our Fumed Silica Thixotropic Powder is compatible with all popular resin systems, including polyurethane, epoxy and polyester.

How to Buy

Our Fumed Silica Thixotropic Powder is sold by volume and is available in 1litre (45g), 5litre (225g) and 10litre (450g) pack sizes. Please choose the pack size you require from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss larger quantities.

Further Information

How to Use Fumed (Colloidal) Silica

Fumed Silica requires significant agitation (stirring) to become fully mixed into a resin. Use of a mechanical stirrer will make the process quicker and easier but manual mixing is perfectly possible. For maximum effect, allow the Fumed Silica to soak in the resin for as much as a day before thorough mixing.

Fumed Silica added to resin at a ratio of 0.7% - 1% (by weight) will produce a thixotropic resin. 2-3% will produce a gelcoat consistency. Percentages up to 3%+ can be used to make a filler paste (additional filler powders may be required).

Please note the addition of Fumed Silica will reduce the clarity of clear resin systems meaning it is not ideal for turning clear laminating resin into a clear gelcoat.

Safety

Fumed Silica particles are incredibly small and light and will become airborne as soon as the material is scooped, moved or mixed. Always wear protective gloves and a dust mask when handling this product in its raw state.

Downloads (3)

Safety Datasheet (SDS)456 KB
Dutch Safety DataSheet362 KB
Technical DataSheet (TDS)271 KB

Specification

Product Data
ColourWhite
FormatPowder
Compatible With
Compatible WithEpoxyYes
Compatible WithPolyesterYes
Compatible WithVinylesterYes
Compatible WithPolyurethaneYes
General Properties
Gross Weight0.093kg
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for?Ask our technical team a question.

Yes. There is no problem with adding both glass bubbles (micro balloons) and fumed silica to a resin at the same time. In fact, this is quite common for creating a thixotropic filler for applications like filling and fairing on radio controlled planes/boats.

Yes, we'd normally suggest adding the fumed silica it to the resin and mixing it in thoroughly first before you add the hardener to the resin. This will give you unlimited time to mix in the fumed silica, which can take a while (many minutes of vigorous stirring) to develop its effect properly.

In terms of the dilution effect of the hardener, it will have the effect you might predict; adding 50% hardener (for a 2:1 mix-ratio resin) to the thickened resin will reduce the thixotropic effect of the fumed silica by 1/3 so you would need to account for this when determining if you have reached the right thixotropy when adding to the resin side only.

For typical percentages of fumed silica, the effect on the volume of resin is so small that it's probably unnecessary to even factor the density change of the resin. If you did want to mitigate any ratio discrepancies, you could just measure out the correct volume of resin and hardener (at 2:1) before you add the fumed silica to the resin.

Likewise, if you were mixing the resin by weight (not volume) the weight of fumed silica is likely to be so small as to allow it to be ignored but if you wanted to be absolutely sure you could weight out the the correct ratio before adding the fumed silica.

Yes, our Fumed Silica can be used to thicken most epoxy resins. The more you add, the thicker it gets - in small quantities you can turn a typical resin into a thixotropic gelcoat consistency. At even higher amounts, you can even end up with a thick paste.

Our 'Fumed Silica' is Aerosil 200. The datasheet for the whole Aerosil range can be found on the Aerosil website. When looking at the datasheet, always look at the values for the Aerosil 200.

Although fumed silica will start to have an affect even at quite low quantities, in order to achieve a thick paste you would need to add quite a bit to your resin. One person's idea of a thick paste might be different to another but a good guide would be perhaps 100% by volume (so one cup of resin to one cup of fumed silica) would be a good starting point for a thick paste.

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Shipping Information

Restrictions

This product is not classed as dangerous goods for transport and can be shipped to all destinations without restriction.

Shipping to EU countries is now done through our European subsidiary based in the Netherlands. All EU customers should use www.easycomposites.eu.

Package Size

There are no package size restrictions or surcharges for this product.

Delivery Cost

To find the delivery cost of this item to your address, add it to your basket and then use the instant shipping calculator on the basket page.

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