Ceramic coatings

Non-stick coatings with colloidal silica for durable and scratch resistant surfaces

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Levasil® colloidal silica a key ingredient in ceramic coatings

The most well-known use for ceramic coatings is cookware and kitchen ware, like pots and pans, airfryers, rice boilers, stoves etc. Colloidal silica is used for both interior and exterior non-stick coating surfaces, making it possible to produce colorful and pigmented cookware and kitchen ware with excellent properties.

Except for cook and kitchen ware, there are many other non-stick applications such as hair straighteners, clothes iron surfaces as well as non-combustible smokeless coatings for metro systems and railway vehicles.

Non-stick ceramic coating composition consists of pigments and fillers, dispersant, wetting agent, silane, silicone oil and colloidal silica. Colloidal silica dispersions consists of very small particles of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2), dispersed in water.

Benefits of Levasil® colloidal silica in ceramic non-stick coatings

Add strength

Levasil® colloidal silica contributes to a strong and dense layer that can withstand high temperatures.

Minimize layer porosity

Levasil® colloidal silica minimize layer porosity.

Improve abrasion

Levasil® colloidal silica improve abrasion, scratch and corrosion resistance.

What is colloidal silica?

Colloidal silica are very small particles of amorphous silica, dispersed in water . Due to the numerous small particles colloidal silica has a large surface area. The particles are usually electrically charged, hence they can easily bind to one another or to other substances. Colloidal silica are safe for both humans and the environment.

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How colloidal silica works in non-stick coatings

Ceramic coatings may consist of different layers with an optimized composition at each layer. Levasil® colloidal silica acts as a binder and reacts with the silane to form a composite structure. In ceramic non-stick coating, our Levasil products:

  • Contribute to a strong and dense layer
  • Minimize layer porosity
  • Improve abrasion, scratch and corrosion resistance

Coating formulations made with colloidal silica help resist surface abrasions and scratches in two principal ways:

  1. Colloidal silica has the ability to act as a three-dimension cross-linker for the silanes in the sol-gel ceramic coating.
  2. Colloidal silica particles are very hard (5.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness) and significantly improve coating hardness.

Safe for both humans and environment

Ceramic coatings do not release toxic compounds at high tempertatures and VOC emission is lower when the coatings are being applied to a surface compared to other traditional non-stick PTFE- based coatings.

Non-stick coatings for cookware, produced from inorganic materials

Most non-stick coatings used for cookware are produced  from organic (PTFE-based or inorganic (ceramic-based) materials. While PTFE-based coating have excellent non-stick properties and good corrosion resistance, they have poor wear resistance at high temperatures and can only be safely used below 260°C. Above this temperature, these coatings will release toxic compounds.

More and more cookware are being developed using ceramic coatings. By adding colloidal silica to these coating compositions, the mechanical properties and the temperature stability are improved. The resulting surfaces are more durable and do not scratch as easily from use.

Moreover, ceramic coatings are considered better for the enviroment than PTFE-based coatings. Ceramic coatings do not release toxic compounds at high temperatures and VOC emission is lower when the coatings are being applied to a surface. Likewise, colloidal silica dispersions are considered safe for both humans and the environment. 

Have you heard about the "Egg test"?

When testing non-stick or release properties of cookware, a test with fried eggs is performed according to a French standard (BF D21-511).

Featured Products

Levasil colloidal silica

Levasil CT16 APL

Levasil® CT16 APL is an alkaline, aqueous dispersion of colloidal silica that is approximately 30% solids by weight. The silica dispersion is sodium stabilized and the amorphous silica particles carry a negative surface charge. The silica particles are discrete, have a smooth, spherical shape, and are present in a semi-wide particle size distribution. The particles have also been surface modified with aluminum. The physical appearance of the dispersion is an opalescent liquid, slightly more viscous than water. Levasil® CT16 APL is produced for world-wide distribution.

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Levasil colloidal silica

Levasil CT20 DH

Levasil® CT20 DH is an acidic, aqueous dispersion of colloidal silica that is approximately 34% solids by weight. The silica dispersion is stabilized by the absence of electrolytes and the amorphous silica particles carry a non charged surface. The silica particles are discrete, have a slightly uneven, spherical shape, and are present in a narrow particle size distribution. The physical appearance of the dispersion is a translucent liquid, slightly more viscous than water. Levasil® CT20 DH is produced for world-wide distribution.

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Levasil colloidal silica

Levasil CT24 PL

Levasil® CT24 PL is an alkaline, aqueous dispersion of colloidal silica that is approximately 30% solids by weight. The silica dispersion is sodium stabilized and the amorphous silica particles carry a negative surface charge. The silica particles are discrete, have a smooth, spherical shape, and are present in a semi-wide particle size distribution. The physical appearance of the dispersion is a clear liquid, slightly more viscous than water. Levasil® CT24 PL is produced for world-wide distribution.

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Levasil colloidal silica

Levasil CT8 PL

Levasil® CT8 PL is an alkaline, aqueous dispersion of colloidal silica that is approximately 45% solids by weight. The silica dispersion is sodium stabilized and the amorphous silica particles carry a negative surface charge. The silica particles are discrete, have a smooth, spherical shape, and are present in a wide particle size distribution. The physical appearance of the dispersion is a white liquid, slightly more viscous than water. Levasil® CT8 PL is produced for world-wide distribution.

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