This section provides an overview for silica as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 40 silica manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked silica companies as of November, 2024: 1.U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc., 2.3M, 3.CoorsTek, Inc..
Table of Contents
Silica is the generic name for silicon dioxide, an oxide of silicon.
Its chemical formula is SiO2, and its crystal structure is tetrahedral, consisting of silicon bonded to four oxygen atoms. The tetrahedral structure is combined to form a variety of structures, resulting in many types of silica, including crystalline and amorphous silica.
Silica is abundant in the earth's crust and occurs naturally as silica crystals in the form of quartz (crystal), tridymite, and cristobalite. Silica is used as a raw material for silica gel, a desiccant for optical components.
Silica is a colorless, transparent solid with a very high melting point. It also has excellent chemical resistance and reacts only with some acids and alkalis.
Because of its heat resistance and chemical resistance, silica is used in chemistry laboratory equipment and spectroscopic analyzers. It is also used as a raw material for silica gel, a desiccant. Highly transparent ones are processed into optical components such as lenses and prisms.
It also plays an important role in the electronics and semiconductor industries. Silica has insulating properties and is indispensable in the manufacture of electronic components and semiconductor devices. In addition, it is widely used as a material for glass and optical fiber.
Quartz, one of the silica crystals, is known for its use in ornaments and as a quartz crystal unit.
Silica can be crystalline or amorphous, and the name silica is used especially when referring to them collectively. Crystalline silica is known as crystalline polymorphs such as quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite. Amorphous silica, on the other hand, is a generic term for materials containing silicon dioxide that do not have crystalline properties. Examples include silica aerogel and fumed silica.
The chemical formula of silica is SiO2, where one silicon atom is covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms. These form a SiO4 tetrahedral structure, with each oxygen atom belonging to two SiO4 tetrahedral structures. The crystalline polymorphism of crystalline silica, such as quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite, results from differences in the arrangement of these SiO4 tetrahedral structures.
Silica itself is not highly reactive with other substances, but it does react with some acids and alkalis. For example, when reacted with hydrofluoric acid, hexafluorosilicic acid is formed, and when reacted with sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate is formed.
Silica is the general term for silicon dioxide, which comes in a variety of types, including:
They exhibit different properties depending on their shape, such as spherical or scaly, particle size, and porosity. Colloidal silica is silica particles dispersed in a solvent such as water.
Fumed silica is a white powder with very low bulk density, called dry silica or highly dispersed silica.
Silica aerogel is a porous material consisting of silica particles that form a three-dimensional network framework with a pore spacing of approximately 50nm.
Silica glass is characterized by its low metallic impurities, high heat resistance, excellent light transmission over a wide range of wavelengths, and resistance to attack by acids and alkalis.
Silica particles can adsorb impurities and are used as a filter aid in food production. An example is the filtration of beer and other alcoholic beverages and soft drinks.
Oral ingestion of silica has little serious effect on the human body, but inhalation of airborne silica particles through the nose or mouth can cause serious symptoms. In particular, inhalation of crystalline silica such as quartz has been reported to cause a type of pneumoconiosis called silicosis.
Symptoms of pneumoconiosis tend to be subjective at first, but over time symptoms such as cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing may occur. Actual cases of acute pneumoconiosis due to inhalation of silica particulates have been reported in factories that handle high-purity crystalline silica particulates. To prevent such accidents, handling should be done using protective equipment such as dust masks.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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3M Company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3M provides diversified technology services globally. 3M operates through four segments: Safety and Industrial, Transportation and Electronics, Health Care, and Consumer. The Safety and Industrial segment offerings include industrial abrasives, masking, and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles. The Transportation and Electronics segment offerings include ceramic solutions, light management films, and electronics assembly solutions. The Healthcare segment offerings include wound care, dentistry and orthodontia solutions, and filtration and purification systems. The Consumer segment offerings include consumer bandages, picture hanging, and stationery products.
CoorsTek, Inc., founded in 1910, is a family-run manufacturer of technical ceramic material formulations with products such as acetabular liners, baffle chambers, carbon brushes for power, focal plane array components, and precision fixed gauges used in transportation, food & beverage, electronic, chemicals, and semiconductor industries. The company in Golden, CO, USA, has research & development, custom manufacturing, and design assistance capabilities. The company's CIO- Matt Mehlbrech, was awarded the 2023 Colorado ORDIE Award for CIO of the Year.
AGC Chemical Americas, Inc., founded in the year, based in Pennsylvania, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of fluorochemical compounds and specialty materials. Their product portfolio includes fluoropolymer resins, enhanced materials, high-performance coating and agents, greenhouse films, and fluorinated solvents. The company is ISO-certified for fluoropolymer-based chemistry. The products are used in various industries which include aerospace, construction, electronics, transportation, energy and life sciences. The company also offers technical services which include analytical testing, thermal analysis, environmental studies, rheometry, and material identification.
U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc., founded in 1894, is an American manufacturer of industrial silica and minerals, headquartered in Katy, Texas. The company's featured offerings include fine ground, ground, and whole grain silica, alongside various other industrial minerals like aplite, cellulose, cristobalite, diatomaceous earth (DE), as well as limestone and sandstone aggregates. Additionally, the company provides SandBox logistics services, designed for the handling and transportation of proppant sand. These products find applications across various sectors and industries including building products, chemicals, fillers and extenders, filtration and foundry. The company's products are also supplied to sectors such as oil and gas, recreation, and testing.
Accuratus Corporation, established in 1977, is a manufacturer and supplier of ceramic products and glass components based in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The company offers standard and specialty ceramic products as well as ceramic machining and firing services. Accuratus supplies various hard-fired ceramic tubing and rods made from a wide range of materials for high-temperature, high-vacuum applications in thermal and chemical industries. The company also offers consulting services on design and material selection for specific needs.
Swift Glass Company, Inc. (SGC) is an American ISO 9001:2015 certified contract manufacturer specializing in glass parts fabrication that was established in Elmira, New York in 1927. The company offers various precision glass fabrication capabilities, including glass CNC machining, waterjet cutting, surface lapping, drilling, and edge grinding and polishing. They commonly manufacture products such as glass wafers, lenses, panels, and panes for a broad range of applications in industry and aerospace manufacturing. SGC primarily produces biomedical device components and industrial equipment for their clients, which include Auer Lighting GmbH, Corning Inc., and General Electric.
General Engineering & Research is an industrial laboratory and manufacturer of commercialized products that is headquartered in San Diego, California, and was established in 2012. The company is specialized in advancing functionalized nanoparticle ideas and products from its highly characterized silica nanoparticles to unique slurries. GE&R slurries use nano-sized capsules containing various chemical payloads which are useful for polishing applications such as Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) and other applications including drug delivery and nano-sensors. The company offers custom solutions, catering to diverse customers, include medical device manufacturers, automotive manufacturers, and electronics manufacturers.
High Tech Material Solutions is based in Auburn, Washington. The company is a supplier of advanced materials and a manufacturer of custom-machined ceramic components to customers globally, with local delivery and in-store pickup also available. The company primarily serves aerospace, medical, government agencies, and energy industries. The company’s services include CNC machining and custom ceramic-based materials fabrication. Additional materials the company provides include crystals, optical materials, nickel foam, and aerospace gels.
Based in Bayville, NY, SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp. is an ISO-certified supplier and manufacturer of industrial equipment, chemicals, components, ordinance, electronics, and systems for industries ranging from aerospace to high tech to law enforcement. Examples of product offerings include raw materials, chemicals, and lubricants for industrial purposes to finished products such as security helmets for law enforcement, and military ordnances. SAE also provides research and development as well as technical support for other companies in similar industries.
International Crystal Laboratories, ICL, was founded in 1962 and is based in Garfield, New Jersey. ICL serves the spectroscopy, applied spectroscopy, and analytical chemistry industries and end users. ICL’s product categories include transmission windows & optics, FTIR calibration films, sample cards, powders, cuttings, IR, UV, optical spectroscopy sampling, laboratory presses, die sets, laboratory supplies, and spectro-optic lab supplies. Examples of ICL’s products include circular disks, magneto crystals, crystal cuttings for grinding, Gemini FTIR gas analysis cells, liquids, and solids, polishing kits, and laboratory grinding mills.
Specialty Glass Products (SGP) is an American manufacturer specializing in custom components made from various hard materials including glass, sapphire, and quartz. The company was established in 1961 and is based in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The company produces prisms, optical components and lenses, flats, light pipes, and stirring rods. These are used in various industries, including in the laser manufacturing, fiber optic, semiconductor, and biomedical sectors. SGP also offers glass and quartz turning, hot working, heat tempering and chemical strengthening services for customer projects.
Reliable-Efficient-Dependable (R-E-D) Industrial Products is an American ISO 9001 certified supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) distributor operating since 2011. Based in Grove City, Pennsylvania, the company offers various SCMs including metakaolin, silica fume, slag replacement, and ground glass pozzolan. These additives increase durability, strength, and affect the appearance of finished products. R-E-D SCMs supply clients that produce pulp and paper products, as well as customers in the infrastructure, power generation, and mining sectors.
READE was originally established in Wolverhampton, England in 1773 as a pharmaceutical chemical and varnish manufacturer. Today READE is based in Riverside, Rhode Island in the United States and is an ISO 9001-certified distributor of specialty chemical solids. READE Advanced Materials offers a selection of hundreds of materials and compounds ranging from alloys in various forms to oxides, sulfides, individual elements, and specialty compounds. READE offers global sourcing, custom toll chemical processing, and custom toll packaging from metallurgical grade to pharmaceutical and food grade.
Accumet Materials Co. is headquartered in Ossining, New York. The company is a metal and ceramics manufacturer and distributor that provides metal engineering solutions to customers around the world. The company specializes in three primary materials: ceramics, metal, and powders. The company offers custom products based on several materials including ceramics, zirconium, magnesium oxide, crystals, and other metals. The company’s facilities include ceramics fabrication, vacuum & arc melting furnaces, a custom foundry, crystal growing, and powder production systems.
Bisley International, LLC is a multinational marketer and distributor of industrial raw materials, with offices in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The company serves several industries including agrochemicals, metallurgy, construction, food & beverage, and oil well drilling. The company produces trace elements and additives for the agrochemical industry. For metallurgy, the company produces specialty allows, raw materials, and consumables. For construction, the company produces raw materials for concrete and plaster. For oil well drilling, the company produces products for extracting and well cementing.
Interra Global Corporation is a supplier of specialty chemical products established in 2008 and is based in Illinois, United States. Its product portfolio includes molecular sieves, silica gel, ceramic balls, activated alumina, and FerroSorp to remove hydrogen sulfide. It caters to several industries, such as agriculture, natural gas, manufacturing, chemical, and pharmaceutical, across the USA. The company is a member of the American Biogas Council and acknowledged as The Inc. 5000 class of 2023, which has revenue growth during inflationary pressure.
Van Horn, Metz & Co., Inc. is a supplier of specialty raw materials operating since 1950 and headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA. Materials they offer, which are categorized by function as additives, extenders, intermediates, pigments, and resins, are utilized by various industries including construction, plastics, adhesives, lubricants, and cosmetics. Their key products of HL-200 and their Ti-Pure™ Sustainability series are used in paints and industrial coatings. A member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, the company offers materials sourced by a network of 40 national and international companies for global and domestic distribution.
Foundry Service & Supplies, Inc., established in 1962, is a supplier of heat and corrosion-resistant industrial insulation and construction materials. Bricks and mortars, calcium silicate boards, engineered composite materials, castable refractories, and ceramic fiber insulation & accessories such as anchors, washers, textiles, and speed clips are among the industrial items. The company's architectural products include composite panels, corrugated fiber cement boards, under-sidewalk rectangular drainpipes, and fiber cement boards. It is based in Ontario, California. Counter and lab fabrication, castable refractories, cast and fired ceramics, grinding, and die-cutting and punching services are all available from the company.
CB Minerals LLC, established in 1897 and headquartered in Mamaroneck, New York, is a global mineral supplier and distributor. The company represents many mining and mineral producers both in the United States and throughout the world offering over 40 different industrial minerals of many different grades. It carries minerals for the cosmetics industry, the environmental industry, the paints industry, and many more. Some of its offerings include alumina, bentonite, calcium sulfate, mica, and more. It adheres to ISO 9000 standards and is registered with the U.S. General Services Administration.
Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd., originally founded in 1932 with headquarters in Kasugai City, Japan, is a manufacturer of synthetic silica products. The company's product lines include various specifically designed synthetic silica gels and silica-gel powers, most available in a number of grades and types. Notable branded products include SYLOPUTE, which is a clarifying agent, a filtration aid, and a flavor improver used by beverage manufacturers; SYLYSIA, a versatile synthetic silica-gel product line that is used by many industries, including paints, plastics, inks, adhesives, and sealants; and BELLASIL, which is silica gel powder especially designed for the cosmetics industry.
Nippon Chemical Industrial Co. Ltd., started in 1893 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of inorganic and specialty chemicals. In 1950, the company started the production of phosphate fertilizer at the Koriyama factory and the production of insecticides at the Miharu factory. In 1970, it began producing phosphoric acid, and in 1971, it started making chromium compounds. Its portfolio includes chromium compounds, inorganic phosphorus compounds, electronic ceramic materials, pharmaceutical intermediates, and agrochemicals. It also offers custom manufacturing for various industries, including agricultural chemicals, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
Tokuyama Corporation, headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and founded in 1918 is a manufacturer of Soda ash and methylene chloride. Soda ash is a fundamental raw material, with applications spanning the glass and detergent industries. Beyond this, it produces quality baking soda for food additives and calcium chloride. The diverse product portfolio includes multiple sections including chemicals, cement, electronic materials, environmental business, and life science. The products catalog includes silicon, microporous films, ion exchange membranes, Chlor, and alkali among others.
SINOSI GROUP CORPORATION, founded in 2017 and located in Beijing, China, is a supplier and manufacturer of silica and silicon materials. The company’s diverse range of products includes quartz crystal products, optic silica products, neodymium ceramic magnets, iron ceramic magnets, and boron ceramic magnets. The company’s products are used for electronics, optical applications, and industrial applications. These products find use in electronics, telecommunications, optics, and industries that require precise materials for electronic, optical, and magnetic applications.
Suyog Elements India Pvt Ltd., established in 2014 and located in Gujarat, India, is a supplier and manufacturer of fly ash and limes. The company’s broad range of products includes micropozz, GGBS, silica fume, quick lime, and hydrated lime. These products have diverse applications in construction, concrete production, chemical processes, water treatment, and industrial manufacturing. The company’s products are used to enhance the properties, durability, and efficiency of materials and processes in industries.
Chemi Enterprises LLP, founded in 1989, is a chemical manufacturer and supplier, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The company specializes in producing chemical compounds, including stearate chemicals like aluminum stearate, barium stearate, calcium stearate, and zinc stearate. Its other offerings include acetylene carbon black, antimony trioxide, barite oil drilling, barite powder, and calcium carbonate. These products find applications across diverse industries, including automotive and trucks, epoxy patty, glass ceramics, and paint, as well as biochemical, medical, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Supersil Chemicals (I) Pvt. Ltd., established in 1992 and located in Maharashtra, India, is a manufacturer of precipitated silica. Its diverse range of products includes rubber-grade precipitated silica, non-rubber-grade silica, and fumed silica. The company’s products are used for reinforcing rubber products, anti-caking agents, and flow enhancers in food, pharmaceuticals, and coatings. Fumed silica has diverse applications as thickening agents, viscosity controllers, and performance enhancers in industries. These products are used to enhance mechanical properties, stability, and performance in rubber, food, pharmaceuticals, coatings, and other sectors.
Tanvi Mines & Minerals, based in Rajasthan, India, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in mineral production and supply. The company’s product portfolio includes premium quartz granules and powder, silica powder and granules, frac sand, and more. These products cater to various industries such as metal, water filtration, paints and coatings, glass manufacturing, and more. Operating globally, the company also serves as an exporter of mineral products from India, serving clients worldwide. With stringent quality control measures, the company offers a lab testing report with each lot of supply from an accredited testing lab in India.
Henan Xunyu Chemical Co., Ltd., established in 2006 and located in Henan, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of fumed silica. The company’s broad range of products includes hydrophilic fumed silica, hydrophobic fumed silica, and fumed alumina. These products find diverse applications in industries such as paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and cosmetics. The company's offerings are used to improve properties and performance across a range of applications and materials. The company is also ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certified.
Mid-Mountain Materials, Inc., founded in 1976 in Seattle, WA, USA, is a manufacturer of thermal insulation materials, including textiles, coated fabrics, and insulation products. Numerous industries, including the petrochemical, aerospace, automotive, and industrial production sectors, utilise these modern materials. The products offer advantages like chemical resiliency, thermal insulation, and fire resistance. The company provides solutions that withstand hard conditions and retain performance and safety for complex uses looking for efficient weatherproof materials to utilize in goods and processes. It emphasizes on emissions control and accredited to ISO 9001:2015.
Esprix Technologies is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of specialty chemicals founded in 1992 in Sarasota, Florida, USA. The company produces specially formulated chemicals used in a wide range of industries. These include pharmaceutical intermediates for drug synthesis, microparticles used in cosmetics, and acrylate oligomers for adhesives. The company serves various clients in research and development, metal fabrication, and textiles. Some of its notable customers include major corporations such as L’Oreal, Pfizer, and Boeing.
GFS Chemicals was founded in 1928 and is based in Columbus, Ohio. GFS Chemicals is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer as well as a supplier of specialty and fine chemicals, serving customers worldwide. GFS serves an array of industries including pharmaceutical, electronics, energy, fragrances, agrichemical, and specialty polymers. GFS Chemicals supplies over 8,600 chemicals in the United States, available in both small and large quantities. GFS Chemicals also offers Karl Fischer reagents, PPT/PPB trace analysis grade acids, turbidity standards, and other high-quality materials.
Shandong Haochuang Material Co., Ltd., founded in 2014 and headquartered in Shandong Province, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemical materials. The company offers a range of products that include precipitated silica, hydrophilic fumed silica, hydrophobic silica, and fumed alumina. These products find diverse applications in industries such as rubber and tire manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, coatings, and ceramics. The company’s products are used to enhance mechanical properties, stability, and functionality in materials and products.
Zircar Refractory Composites Inc., established in Florida, USA, has been a manufacturer and supplier of ceramic composite products since 1960. The company offers moldables for creating intricate alloy parts, and rigid boards and cylinders for chimney liners or boiler room insulators. It also offers blankets, textiles, custom shapes as well as coatings and rigidizers for increasing the refractoriness or hardness of surfaces.The company’s products find ideal applications in glass processing, hot pressing, and forging operations.
Air Power Products Limited, established in 1980 and headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, is an air compressor and air treatment equipment manufacturer and B2B supplier. Beyond industrial air compressors, the company produces air dryers, gas separation systems, and vacuum systems. Its products include on-site O2 gas generation equipment, PLC-based monitoring and control systems, and Duplex medical air dryers. These products are used to create oxygen for fish farms and to process, sanitize, and dry medical air used for patient applications in hospital procedures. The company's services include custom product design, production, and installation, coupled with on-site operator training.
Noah Chemicals Corporation was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company is a distributor of advanced materials and specialty chemicals for industries such as aerospace, agriculture, nuclear, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The company’s product categories include inorganic, evaporate materials, intermediates, rare earths, and ceramics. The company’s services include trial burns to help customers protect the environment, custom fertilizer development to produce more environmentally efficient fertilizers, and custom clean in place chemicals for equipment sanitization.
With more than 20 years of experience in the field of concrete additives and abrasives, it is a leading supplier of silica fume, silicon carbide and related products in China.
Transo-Pharm USA (TPUSA) is a GMP compliant distributor of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for the health and veterinary industries established in 2002 as a subsidiary of the German company Transo-Pharm Handelsgesellschaft GmbH. Located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, the company offers APIs for human use, veterinary drugs and medicines, as well as biotechnology products and therapies. TPUSA also provides logistical and customer support, as well as regulatory compliance services such as supplying drug master files (DMFs) and certificates of suitability (CEPs) for clients within the US market.
Chemicals 101 Corp., started in 2018 and based in Toronto, Canada, is a supplier of earths and inorganic compounds for industry and research groups. Its chemical portfolio includes Neodymium oxide, Ytterbium fluoride, and Cerium carbonate. Some of the rare earths include yttrium, lutetium, and lanthanum. The company also provides micron materials like Aluminum, Palladium, and Silicon powders. Its other products are nanomaterials, additives for glass composition, and micron materials. ICP-MS and GDMS analyze all the company products, and its customers are mainly university research groups around Europe and North America interested in lanthanide chemistry.
Saunders Foundry Supply, Inc., located in Cold Spring New York, is a supplier specializing in precision casting furnaces, equipment and supplies. The company’s product portfolio includes custom and standard wax melting tanks, burn-out furnaces, metal melting furnaces, refractories and safety clothing. They also serve related industries such as art casting, architectural restoration, concrete casting and precious metals recovery. Saunders supports a wide array of applications in various sectors including art schools, and aerospace agencies, serving a global clientele.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. |
10.4%
|
2 | 3M |
5.7%
|
3 | CoorsTek, Inc. |
4.8%
|
4 | High Tech Material Solutions |
4.4%
|
5 | NIPPON CHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD. |
4.4%
|
6 | Accuratus Corporation |
4.2%
|
7 | AGC Chemicals Americas, Inc. |
4.1%
|
8 | General Engineering & Research |
3.9%
|
9 | Specialty Glass Products |
3.7%
|
10 | Bisley International LLC |
3.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the silica page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 19 | 61.3% |
India | 4 | 12.9% |
Japan | 3 | 9.7% |
China | 3 | 9.7% |
Germany | 1 | 3.2% |
Canada | 1 | 3.2% |
21 products are listed.
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