Colloidal silicas obtained via co-precipitation method using cyclohexane as an organic phase

The process of obtaining colloidal silicas from the emulsion systems with the use of cyclohexane as the organic phase has been studied and the products obtained have been also characeterised. The emulsion systems made of water solutions of sodium metasilicate and hydrochloric acid or alternatively sulfinic acid have been used. Non-ionic surfactants have been used as emulsifiers, while a homogeniser has been a dispersing too]. The optimum compositions of the emulsion systems and the optimum parameters of silicas precipitation have been established. The dispersion character of the colloids obtained has been examined and the shapes, size and morphology of the SiO2 particles formed have been analysed (including a tendency to agglomerate formation and polydispersity).