Silica is a raw material for manufacturing glass, quartz glass, water glass, optical fiber, important components of the electronic industry, optical instruments, handicrafts and refractory materials, and is an important material for scientific research.
When the silicon dioxide is crystallized, it becomes a crystal; when the silicon dioxide is dehydrated, it becomes agate; when the hydrous colloid of silicon dioxide is solidified, it becomes opal; when the silicon dioxide crystal grains are smaller than a few microns, it forms chalcedony, flint, and secondary quartz rock. It is a mineral resource with very stable physical and chemical properties. The crystal belongs to the oxide mineral of the trigonal crystal system, that is, low-temperature quartz (α-quartz), which is the most widely distributed mineral species in the quartz group minerals. The generalized quartz also includes high-temperature quartz (β-quartz). Quartz block, also known as silica, is mainly the raw material for the production of quartz sand (also known as silica sand), as well as the raw material for quartz refractory materials and firing ferrosilicon.
In addition, silicon dioxide can also be used as a lubricant, which is an excellent flow promoter, mainly as a lubricant, anti-sticking agent, and flow aid. It is especially suitable for the granulation of oils and extracts, and the granules produced have good fluidity and compressibility. It can also be used as a glidant in direct compression. As a disintegrant, it can greatly improve the fluidity of granules, increase the bulk density, increase the hardness of the prepared tablet, shorten the disintegration time limit, and increase the drug dissolution rate. In the manufacture of granules, it can be used as an internal desiccant to enhance the stability of the drug. It can also be used as a filter aid, clarifier, defoamer, and suspending agent and thickener for liquid preparations