Research Progress and Development Trends of Hydrophobic Silica
Physical Properties and Preparation Methods
Hydrophobic silica possesses unique physical and chemical properties, giving it broad application prospects in a wide range of fields. Its core characteristics include excellent hydrophobicity, a high specific surface area (up to 1000 m²/g), good optical properties, and electrical conductivity. The presence of numerous unsaturated residual bonds and hydroxyl groups in various bonding states on its surface contributes to its high reactivity.

The main preparation methods include:
Pyrolysis: A simple and effective method for converting organic matter into hydrophobic silica through high-temperature pyrolysis.
Wet synthesis: Synthesis using sols and colloids as intermediates, achieved by controlling reaction conditions and additive types.
Sol-gel: Controlling the composition and concentration of the sol and colloids allows the sol to gradually gel to form a solid material.
Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) treatment: The most commonly used modification method, converting hydrophilic hydroxyl groups into hydrophobic trimethylsilyl groups.

Applications and Recent Advances
Hydrophobic silica shows broad application prospects in the following areas:
Construction Applications: Exterior wall coatings, cement-based materials, glass curtain walls, etc., offering excellent waterproof, antifouling, and weather-resistant properties.
Electronic devices: Packaging materials, solar cell photoelectric conversion layer materials, flexible displays, etc.
Automotive: Coatings and window glass reduce water vapor adhesion and improve visibility.
Medical: Medical devices and surgical instruments reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation.

The nano-colloidal silica spheres developed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong have an extremely high specific surface area, with a surface silanol group density more than four times that of ordinary materials. They exhibit strong adsorption capacity for drug molecules and can improve the water solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.

Research Progress and Development Trends of Highly Dispersible Silica
Industry Status and Development Trends
China's silica industry is experiencing both quantitative and qualitative growth. The market size is expected to reach 28.5 billion yuan in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 6.5%. Production will exceed 1.8 million tons, accounting for over 40% of the global total. While the traditional rubber sector remains the primary demand driver (accounting for over 60%), high-end applications such as new energy (such as lithium battery separator coatings) and electronic materials (chip packaging) are experiencing significant growth, reaching 15%-20% annually.

Technologically, precipitated silica dominates the market (approximately 75%), while fumed silica continues to gain market penetration in the high-end market due to its high purity and superior performance. The industry still faces the pain points of being "big but not strong": overcapacity at the low end, fierce competition from homogeneous products, and reliance on imports for high-end products.

Highly dispersed silica plays a key role in the following sectors:
Rubber Industry: Improving the strength, wear resistance, and aging resistance of rubber products. Used in the manufacture of "green tires," it can reduce rolling resistance by approximately 30%.
New Energy Industry: Lithium battery separator coating materials, enhancing battery performance.
Electronic Materials: Chip packaging materials require high purity and high dispersion.
Coatings Industry: Improving the strength, glossiness, and pigment suspension properties of coatings.
As a leading company in highly dispersed silica, Quecheng Co., Ltd. has opened up long-term growth opportunities through technological innovation and achieved breakthroughs in the high-end market.

Research Progress on Other Specialty Silica
Main Types and Characteristics
Fumed Silica: Produced through a gas-phase reaction, it features a high surface area (200-500 m²/g), small particle size (10-50 nm), and a uniform structure.
Precipitated Silica: Produced through a chemical precipitation method, it has a lower surface area (50-150 m²/g) and larger particle size (50-150 nm).
Sol-Gel Silica: Produced using sol-gel technology, it allows for precise control of particle size and pore structure, resulting in a unique microstructure.
Industry Policies and Future Development
The "Action Plan for the High-Quality Development of Inorganic Silicon Materials" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology clearly states: By 2026, the self-sufficiency rate of high-end silica will be increased to 50%, and energy consumption per unit of output value will be reduced by 20%. Future development trends include:

Increasing single-furnace production capacity
Promoting product specialization
Energy conservation and consumption reduction
Environmental protection and safety

Conclusion and Outlook
Functional silica, particularly hydrophobic and highly dispersible specialty silica, continues to advance in preparation technology, and its application areas are expanding. With the development of industries such as electronics, rubber, new energy, and pharmaceuticals, demand for high-performance silica is expected to grow further. Future R&D will focus on:

Improving physical properties: Optimizing surface structure and coating technology to improve wettability, self-cleaning properties, and durability
Expanding multifunctional applications: Exploring new applications in corrosion protection, anti-pollution, and energy conservation
Improving environmental friendliness: Developing more environmentally friendly preparation methods to reduce environmental pollution
Expanding application areas: Expanding into emerging fields such as food packaging, electronics, and marine engineering
As a high-performance inorganic material, functional silica will play a key role in driving the transformation of the manufacturing industry towards high-end and green manufacturing.