Quartz Sand

Quartz sand – Chemical formula: SiO2 –

is the starting material for obtaining silicon.

Trichlorosilanes

Powdered metallurgical-grade silicon is reacted

with hydrogen chloride gas in fluidized bed reactors to form a mixture of trichlorosilane and tetrachlorosilane. These liquid silanes are subsequently purified by distillation.

Metallurgical silicon

Metallurgical-grade silicon is produced by the carbothermal reduction of quartz sand (silicon dioxide) with highly pure coke. This silicon product is used in alloys and as an auxiliary in steel production. It is also the most widely used starting material for producing silanes.

Methylchlorosilanes

Powdered metallurgical silicon reacts with methyl chloride gas in a fluidized bed reactor to form a mixture of “Rochow silanes.” For use as silicone precursors, the silanes are then distilled into methyltrichlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane and – the main product – dimethyldichlorosilane. The latter is the starting point for all silicone fluids.

Hydrophilic fumed silica

Tetrachlorosilane made from flame pyrolysis to form hydrophilic fumed silica. The white powder is extremely pure and fine, exhibiting a large surface area and low bulk density. To improve the versatility of the pyrogenic silica powder, its hydrophilic surface is treated with silanes for certain applications.

Hydrophobic Silica

Hydrophobic HDK® is produced by chemically modifying hydrophilic HDK® with reactive silanes, e.g. chlorosilanes or hexamethyldisilazane. Hydrophobic silica has water resistance properties and is not dispersible in water.

Quartz Sand

Quartz sand – Chemical formula: SiO2 –

is the starting material for obtaining silicon.

Trichlorosilanes

Powdered metallurgical-grade silicon is reacted

with hydrogen chloride gas in fluidized bed reactors to form a mixture of trichlorosilane and tetrachlorosilane. These liquid silanes are subsequently purified by distillation.

Metallurgical silicon

Metallurgical-grade silicon is produced by the carbothermal reduction of quartz sand (silicon dioxide) with highly pure coke. This silicon product is used in alloys and as an auxiliary in steel production. It is also the most widely used starting material for producing silanes.

Methylchlorosilanes

Powdered metallurgical silicon reacts with methyl chloride gas in a fluidized bed reactor to form a mixture of “Rochow silanes.” For use as silicone precursors, the silanes are then distilled into methyltrichlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane and – the main product – dimethyldichlorosilane. The latter is the starting point for all silicone fluids.

Hydrophilic fumed silica

Tetrachlorosilane made from flame pyrolysis to form hydrophilic fumed silica. The white powder is extremely pure and fine, exhibiting a large surface area and low bulk density. To improve the versatility of the pyrogenic silica powder, its hydrophilic surface is treated with silanes for certain applications.

Hydrophobic Silica

Hydrophobic HDK® is produced by chemically modifying hydrophilic HDK® with reactive silanes, e.g. chlorosilanes or hexamethyldisilazane. Hydrophobic silica has water resistance properties and is not dispersible in water.