Degussa's Aerosil & Silanes Business Unit officially inaugurated its new aerosil fumed silica facility at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate, south-east of Bangkok, Thailand, recently. The plant, which is owned by Degussa's Thai Aerosil Company (TAC) subsidiary, had already been supplying its local partner with Aerosil.

It is situated near the production sites of Asia Silicones Monomer (ASM) and of its two joint owners GE Toshiba Silicones and Shin-Etsu Silicones. TAC sources the chlorosilane needed for Aerosil production from ASM, which generates it as a by-product. Capacity at the new facility is in the region of capacity of several thousand tonnes/year.

Aerosil is produced in a continuous combustion process in which precise adjustment and control of a range of process parameters yields particles of various sizes. The individual product grades are distinguished by their surface area in m2/g, with standard grades ranging from 90 to 380 m2/g. It is used as a reinforcing filler in silicone rubber, in coatings, adhesives and sealants, non-drip paints, cosmetics production, pharmaceuticals, in high-performance high-temperature insulating materials and as an ultrafine polishing medium in microchips.