Fumed Silica

nmp · Aug 10, 2017

I am thinking of experimenting with fumed silica to see if there is a benefit to Damx on salt prints. As I understand I should get the hydrophlic kind. But most what is available on the net is labeled or described as hydorphobic or not labeled at all. Aerosil lists a series of hydrophilic part numbers, like Aerosil 90, 200 and so on. However those numbers do not show up on any of the re-sellers' labels. What gives? Even B&S seems not to be selling any more.

Any help in clearing up this for me will be appreciated. Thanks.

pdeeh · Aug 10, 2017

Why not contact the sellers and ask? Or B&S?

I've looked into this a couple of times in the past, and I found no problem in identifying the right stuff. As it's mostly used as a thickener in resin casting & moulding, most all of it will be hydrophilic, I suspect.

When I've looked for it, I've looked for CAB-O-SIL by the way

(eg. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cab-O-Sil...345548?hash=item3a7c96914c:g:kPAAAOSwr7ZW3lB7)

Can't help you more than this, sorry

NedL · Aug 10, 2017

B&S still has fumed silica and fumed alumina. Sometimes the search function at their site doesn't work very well.
I've subscribed to this thread but don't know how well the thread subscriptions will transfer to the new format photrio site.... keep us posted on what you find pleaase!

nmp · Aug 10, 2017

Thanks, Pdeeh: You did give me a couple of clues...

Yep, Ned: I did use the search on B&S. It came up nothing. We are used to Google....if it ain't on the search, it don't exist! Checked your link: Holy cow, the price!

Will keep posted with any new developments. I guess we will be off for a few days.

Thanks.

:Niranjan.

dpurdy · Aug 10, 2017

I use "Fiberlay" fumed silica that I bought off Amazon. It is a fine powder that works well for me but it doesn't say on the container whether it is philic or phobic. Whatever it is it works well. I brush it on and use very little. It will definitely irritate your lungs if you don't wear a dust mask while applying it.

nmp · Aug 10, 2017

dpurdy said:
I use "Fiberlay" fumed silica that I bought off Amazon. It is a fine powder that works well for me but it doesn't say on the container whether it is philic or phobic. Whatever it is it works well. I brush it on and use very little. It will definitely irritate your lungs if you don't wear a dust mask while applying it.

Thanks.

I ended up ordering this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360442352233

I asked them what was the manufacturer's part number they were re-packaging from and they said it was Aerosil 200 - which is the hydrophilic kind. Let's see what it does.

dpurdy · Aug 11, 2017

nmp said:
Thanks.

I ended up ordering this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360442352233

I asked them what was the manufacturer's part number they were re-packaging from and they said it was Aerosil 200 - which is the hydrophilic kind. Let's see what it does.

I see that Amazon no longer has the exact type I got so I am definitely interested in what you get with the Aerosil 200.
Dennis

Vaughn · Aug 11, 2017

dpurdy said:
I use "Fiberlay" fumed silica that I bought off Amazon. It is a fine powder that works well for me but it doesn't say on the container whether it is philic or phobic. Whatever it is it works well. I brush it on and use very little. It will definitely irritate your lungs if you don't wear a dust mask while applying it.

Ah...pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis! I never thought I'd have a chance to use this word!

Okay, the silica may or may not have come from a volcano...

dpurdy · Aug 11, 2017

Vaughn said:
Ah...pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis! I never thought I'd have a chance to use this word!

Okay, the silica may or may not have come from a volcano...

Pretty sure you didn't spell that from memory. Near as I can tell, fumed silica is made with heat so perhaps a volcano can make all natural organic fumed silica.

Andrew O'Neill · Aug 11, 2017

I think you'll have better luck acidifying your paper.

nmp · Aug 11, 2017

Andrew O'Neill said:
I think you'll have better luck acidifying your paper.

Already in my process. Using buffered paper, it becomes imperative to get rid of "dark" stains.

nmp · Aug 11, 2017

dpurdy said:
Pretty sure you didn't spell that from memory. Near as I can tell, fumed silica is made with heat so perhaps a volcano can make all natural organic fumed silica.

It's actually kind of simple if you break it up:

pneumono
ultramicroscopic
silico
volcano
con
iosis

"con" is the key word.

dpurdy · Aug 11, 2017

Andrew O'Neill said:
I think you'll have better luck acidifying your paper.

It is not for the same purpose. I do acidify some papers but then I still use the fumed silica. Acidifying solves a problem whereas fumed silica enhances a quality. Most the papers I use need no acidifying.

Andrew O'Neill · Aug 11, 2017

What quality does it enhance? I've been using fumed silica for years and from what I can see, they both only enhance Dmax.

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