Silica is industrially manufactured in a variety of forms – including silica gels, precipitated silica, fumed silica, and colloidal silica. Colloidal silica is a suspension of fine amorphous, non-porous, spherical silica particles in liquid phase, unlike other forms of silica. It has the widest ranging surface area. The product has multiple industrial applications including drainage aid, high-temperature binder, investment casting, abrasive, carbonless paper, catalysts, moisture absorbent, powders, granules, abrasion, absorbent, and quantum dots in small semiconductors, which is expected to contribute to product demand.
Colloidal silica can be used in numerous applications and it enhances functionality in an ever-growing number of products. The product acts as an anti-soiling agent, thus, enhancing the performance of waterborne coatings. In cementing applications, it increases strength and durability. Colloidal silica provides durability to structures such as bridges and buildings. In paper-making plants, colloidal silica is used to drain the liquid from the paper. By allowing the water to leave the paper rapidly, the starch in the paper will remain, increasing the strength of the paper. It is used to increase surface friction in many manufacturing plants and factories. The waxed floor is coated with colloidal silica to increase friction, making stacking and handling of finished products safer, easier, and more efficient. Globally, colloidal silica demand was estimated to be around $682.1 million in 2022, in terms of value, and is expected to reach $921.7 million in 2028 at a CAGR of 5.14%.
Research Coverage
The global colloidal silica market was dominated by the Asia-Pacific region, and by China and India in particular. In 2022, Asia Pacific held the largest share of the global colloidal silica market and is estimated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. The rising demand for colloidal silica in the region is the result of increasing demand from end-use industries such as investment casting, paints and coatings, building and construction, pulp and paper, cosmetics and personal care, electronics, pharmaceuticals and others.
Also, the growth of the automotive and healthcare industries has ultimately created a high demand for colloidal silica in the region due to increasing government initiatives to promote private sector investment in the investment casting industry, especially in China and India. Many multinational automotive as well as healthcare giants have now established production bases in these two countries due to the availability of skilled labor, cheap power sources, and inexpensive raw materials as compared to Europe and North America.
Alkaline colloidal silica is the largest and the fastest growing type during the forecast period. Its demand is projected to reach around $ 389.9 million in 2028, in terms of value, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.46% during the forecast period. Alkaline colloidal silica is prepared by titrating an alkaline solution (such as sodium silicate) with silicic acid at a constant pH range. In addition, it is produced by polymerizing silicate nuclei in silicate solutions under alkaline conditions to form nanoscale silica sols with high surface area.
The major application areas of colloidal silica are building and construction, electronics and semiconductors, investment casting, paints and coatings, pulp and paper, and the pharmaceuticals industry. Other applications of colloidal silica include its use as a silica source in the manufacture of zeolites. It also acts as a binder in insulation boards, and other refractory fiber-based parts. Colloidal silica is also a key component in treatment formulations used in the natural and synthetic textile and fabric industries. It provides special finishing effects to blends and fabrics made from fibers and filaments of cotton, wool, and synthetic materials. In beverage applications, colloidal silica is used as a functional processing aid for removing undesirable components from liquids such as wine, juices, ciders, and beer. Among the major end-use industries, the investment casting industry is the largest user of colloidal silica in terms of value and volume during the forecast period.
Competitive Landscape
Key players such as Nouryon Chemicals B.V., W. R. Grace and Co., and Evonik Industries AG have come up with customer and end-use centric products. Apart from strong branding and marketing strategies, the key manufacturers have also established strong distribution network. Thus, the internal competition in the colloidal silica industry is very high.
ADEKA Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Chemiewerk Bad Kostritz GmbH, Ecolab Inc. (Nalco Holding Company), Fuso Chemical Co., Ltd., Guangdong Well-Silicasol Co., Ltd., Jinan Yinfeng Silicon Products Co., Ltd., Linyi Kehan Silicon Products Co., Ltd., Merck KGaA, Nissan Chemical Corporation, Nyacol Nano Technologies, Inc., REMET Corporation, Shandong Baite Electronics Co., Ltd., Sterling Chemicals, Inc. (Eastman Chemical Company), Zhejiang Xinna Material Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Yuda Chemical Co., Ltd. are some of the other key players operating in the global colloidal silica market.
Rising demand for colloidal silica in various application industries is likely to prompt manufacturers to expand their production capacities and introduce new products. For instance, in June 2020, W. R. Grace and Co. announced the opening of its new 8,200 square-meter state-of-the-art, colloidal silica plant at its European flagship manufacturing and R&D center in Worms, Germany. The facility doubled the worldwide production capacity of Ludox, Grace’s leading colloidal silica product, and significantly enhanced Grace’s responsiveness to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, (EMEA) and Asia Pacific. In November 2021, Nouryon Chemicals B.V. announced plans to expand production capacity at its Levasil® colloidal silica manufacturing facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S., to meet increasing demand from the Construction and Packaging end-markets.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 1
Report Description 1
Study Goals 1
Market Segment 1
Research Methodology 2
Information Sources 2
Primary Research 2
Secondary Research 3
Geographic Breakdown 3
2. Key Findings 5
3. Market Overview 9
Introduction 9
Market Dynamics 9
Drivers 9
Restraints 9
4. Colloidal Silica Market by Product 10
Overview 10
Acidic Colloidal Silica 11
Market Size and Forecast 12
Acidic Colloidal Silica Market, by Region 13
Alkaline Colloidal Silica 13
Market Size and Forecast 14
Alkaline Colloidal Silica Market, by Region 15
Modified Colloidal Silica 15
Market Size and Forecast 16
Modified Colloidal Silica Market, by Region 17
Ordinary Colloidal Silica 17
Market Size and Forecast 18
Ordinary Colloidal Silica Market, by Region 19
5. Colloidal Silica Market by Application 20
Overview 20
Building and Construction 22
Colloidal Silica for Building and Construction Market, Size and Forecast 22
Colloidal Silica for Building and Construction Market, by Region 23
Electronics and Semiconductors 23
Colloidal Silica for Electronics and Semiconductors Market, Size and Forecast 24
Colloidal Silica for Electronics and Semiconductors Market, by Region 25
Investment Castings 25
Colloidal Silica for Investment Castings Market, Size and Forecast 26
Colloidal Silica for Investment Castings Market, by Region 27
Paints and Coatings 27
Colloidal Silica for Paints and Coatings Market, Size and Forecast 28
Colloidal Silica for Paints and Coatings Market, by Region 29
Pharmaceuticals 29
Colloidal Silica for Pharmaceuticals Market, Size and Forecast 30
Colloidal Silica for Pharmaceuticals Market, by Region 31
Pulp and Paper 31
Colloidal Silica for Pulp and Paper Market, Size and Forecast 32
Colloidal Silica for Pulp and Paper Market, by Region 33
Others 33
Colloidal Silica for Others Market, Size and Forecast 34
Colloidal Silica for Others Market, by Region 35
6. Colloidal Silica Market by Geography 36
Overview 36
Market Size and Forecast 36
North America 37
Market Size and Forecast 38
Key Countries 40
United States 40
Canada 41
Mexico 41
Europe 42
Market Size and Forecast 42
Key Countries 44
Germany 45
France 46
UK 46
Italy 47
Spain 48
Rest of The Europe 48
Asia-Pacific 50
Market Size and Forecast 50
Key Countries 52
China 53
Japan 53
India 54
South Korea 55
Australia 55
Rest of Asia-Pacific 56
MEA 56
Market Size and Forecast 57
Key Countries 59
Saudi Arabia 59
Turkey 60
South Africa 61
Rest of MEA 61
Latin America 62
Market Size and Forecast 62
Key Countries 64
Brazil 65
Rest of Latin America 65
7. Key Competitor Profiles 67
Evonik Industries AG 67
Company Information 67
Product and Services 67
Business Overview 67
SWOT Analysis 68
Fuso Chemical Co., Ltd. 68
Company Information 68
Product and Services 68
Business Overview 69
SWOT Analysis 69
Nouryon Chemicals B.V. 70
Company Information 70
Product and Services 70
Business Overview 70
SWOT Analysis 71
Nissan Chemical Corporation 71
Company Information 71
Product and Services 71
Business Overview 71
SWOT Analysis 72
W. R. Grace and Co. 72
Company Information 72
Product and Services 72
Business Overview 73
SWOT Analysis 73
8. Other Prominent Vendors 75
ADEKA Corporation 75
Cabot Corporation 75
Chemiewerk Bad Kostritz GmbH 75
Ecolab Inc. (Nalco Holding Company) 75
Guangdong Well-Silicasol Co., Ltd. 75
Jinan Yinfeng Silicon Products Co., Ltd. 75
Linyi Kehan Silicon Products Co., Ltd. 75
Merck KGaA 75
Nyacol Nano Technologies, Inc. 75
REMET Corporation 75
Shandong Baite Electronics Co., Ltd. 75
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. (Eastman Chemical Company) 75
Zhejiang Xinna Material Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 75
Zhejiang Yuda Chemical Co., Ltd. 75
9. Appendix 76
Companies Mentioned
ADEKA Corporation
Cabot Corporation
Chemiewerk Bad Kostritz GmbH
Ecolab Inc. (Nalco Holding Company)
Evonik Industries AG
Fuso Chemical Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Well-Silicasol Co., Ltd.
Jinan Yinfeng Silicon Products Co., Ltd.
Linyi Kehan Silicon Products Co., Ltd.
Merck KGaA
Nissan Chemical Corporation
Nouryon Chemicals B.V.
Nyacol Nano Technologies, Inc.
REMET Corporation
Shandong Baite Electronics Co., Ltd.
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. (Eastman Chemical Company)
W. R. Grace and Co.
Zhejiang Xinna Material Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang Yuda Chemical Co., Ltd.