Silicon Dioxide Precipitation for Low-Viscosity Toothpaste Abrasives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothpaste formulations using silicon dioxide as abrasive suffer from high viscosity, leading to caking and difficulty in rinsing, due to low dispersity and high viscosity of silicon dioxide, which is exacerbated by electric toothbrush vibrations, and the preparation process results in adherence to reaction tanks, complicating filtration and washing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving controlled temperature, pH, and stirring rate during the preparation of silicon dioxide solution, followed by filtration, washing, and sieving to achieve low viscosity and high dispersity, with specific sodium silicate and sulfuric acid solutions, and controlled particle size and salt content to produce silicon dioxide suitable for toothpaste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional gel method is used to prepare silicon dioxide, then particle size distribution is narrow, but viscosity is too high (over 3000 cp) resulting in low dispersity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the preparation method from gel method to acidification precipitation method, adjusting parameters such as adding sulfuric acid to control pH at 2-5, controlling temperature at 40-60°C, and controlling stirring rate at 350-500 rpm. These parameter changes produce silicon dioxide with viscosity below 100 cp and significantly improved dispersity while maintaining narrow particle size distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the gel method with a chemical precipitation method using acidification. Instead of relying on gel formation and aging processes, the method uses controlled chemical reactions between sodium silicate and sulfuric acid to directly precipitate silicon dioxide particles with desired properties, achieving both narrow size distribution and low viscosity
2Strength
If high viscosity silicon dioxide is used in toothpaste, then abrasive performance is maintained, but paste is prone to caking under high-frequency vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces silicon dioxide viscosity from over 3000 cp to below 100 cp through controlled acidification precipitation. This parameter change maintains the abrasive hardness and cleaning performance of silicon dioxide while dramatically improving flow characteristics and resistance to caking under vibration, making the toothpaste suitable for electric toothbrushes
3Strength
If high viscosity silicon dioxide is used in toothpaste, then abrasive function is preserved, but paste is difficult to seep between teeth and remove
Solution Approach 1:
By reducing silicon dioxide viscosity from over 3000 cp to below 100 cp through controlled precipitation conditions (pH 2-5, temperature 40-60°C, stirring rate 350-500 rpm), the patent maintains abrasive hardness while dramatically improving paste flowability. This enables easy penetration between teeth and effortless rinsing without compromising cleaning effectiveness
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional gel method is used for preparing silicon dioxide, then preparation is straightforward, but silicon dioxide adheres to reaction tank and is difficult to discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gel method with acidification precipitation, where sulfuric acid is added to sodium silicate solution to precipitate silicon dioxide. This method avoids gel adhesion to tank walls, allows easy discharge of the precipitate, and simplifies subsequent filtration and washing processes while maintaining production efficiency
5Stability of the object's composition
If traditional gel method is used for preparing silicon dioxide, then gel structure is formed, but subsequent filtering and washing processes are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gel formation with direct acidification precipitation. By adding sulfuric acid to sodium silicate solution and controlling pH to 2-5, silicon dioxide precipitates as discrete particles rather than forming a gel network. This eliminates the adhesion and filtration difficulties associated with gel structures while maintaining compositional stability and producing easily filterable precipitate
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The prepared silicon dioxide exhibits low viscosity and high dispersity, preventing caking and easy rinsing, with improved stability and suitability for long-term storage in toothpaste, and adherence to reaction tanks is avoided, facilitating efficient processing.
Implementation Method 1
adding the sulfuric acid solution and the sodium silicate solution dropwise into the water... obtaining a silicon dioxide solution
Implementation Method 2
aging and stirring at a rate of 350-500 rpm for 30-60 min
Implementation Method 3
filter-pressing and washing the silicon dioxide solution with water to obtain a filter cake
Implementation Method 4
drying and crushing the filter cake
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a preparation method for silicon dioxide and belongs to the technical field of silicon dioxides. The invention provides a specific preparation method for silicon dioxide, which controls the temperature, pH and stirring rate in the step of preparing a silicon dioxide solution to exert an influence on the stability of a silicon dioxide solution gel system. The prepared silicon dioxide solution has a low viscosity, and finally prepared silicon dioxide has a high dispersity. The prepared silicon dioxide solution with a low viscosity will not adhere to a reaction tank, thus being easy to discharge. When the silicon dioxide prepared by the preparation method is used for preparing a toothpaste, since the silicon dioxide shows high dispersity due to its large BET specific area, low oil absorption and low viscosity, paste of the prepared toothpaste is not prone to caking and can be rinsed off easily. In addition, the paste of the prepared toothpaste shows high stability in a follow-up test of the viscosity stability of the toothpaste, thus being suitable for long-term storage.