Selection
Size, material, medium, surface and evidence.
Technical and commercial questions
Silica particle FAQ
These answers establish selection boundaries. The exact Applied Physics product page, quotation, certificate, safety data and lot documentation control commercial use.
What size range does Applied Physics offer for silica particles?
Current public product families include prepared silica in the 20–200 nm and 250–1000 nm ranges, dry silica families extending into micron-scale material, functionalized options and finished contamination-wafer standards. Exact availability must be quoted.
What is the difference between silica nanoparticles and silica microspheres?
Use the explicit diameter and method. Commercial naming is inconsistent; this site uses “nanoparticles” for the smaller family and “microspheres” for larger spherical particles.
Are silica particles NIST traceable?
A product may include a traceability statement for a defined measurement result. Review the exact certificate, method, reference chain and uncertainty; do not rely on the phrase alone.
What is the difference between silica and PSL particles?
They differ in optical, density, surface, mechanical and common application behavior. Equal nominal diameter does not make them interchangeable.
Should I buy an aqueous dispersion, ethanol dispersion or powder?
Choose from downstream compatibility, stability, flammability, wetting, dilution, exposure controls and whether you can validate redispersion.
Can I dilute a 10 wt% silica stock?
Yes when the product and application allow it, but use compatible concentration units and control stock homogeneity, diluent quality, transfer, mixing and final stability.
Why is my DLS result larger than the certificate size?
Possible causes include a different measurand, hydration, surface coating, weak association, dust, concentration effects or method settings. Compare the exact methods and conditions.
What does zeta potential tell me?
It is an electrokinetic measurement that can support condition-specific colloidal-stability assessment. It is not a universal stability guarantee.
Can dry silica powder redisperse to primary particles?
Not automatically. Drying can create structures that require validated wetting and energy, and some aggregates may not separate.
Can silica particles be used for DUV wafer inspection?
They can be evaluated when the material, size, wafer, deposition, wavelength, tool and recipe support the objective. Avoid universal superiority claims.
What information is needed for a contamination wafer quote?
Tool model, wafer diameter and substrate, particle material and sizes, deposition pattern, target count or density, certificate, packaging and required date.
Are functionalized silica particles suitable for biomedical use?
Do not infer clinical or diagnostic suitability. Functionalized materials require research-use boundaries and product-specific purity, biological and regulatory evidence.
Does this site sell products directly?
No. It is a manufacturer-published technical resource. Commercial inquiries route to Applied Physics Corporation for current specification, availability and quotation.
Does Applied Physics ship worldwide?
Applied Physics supports customers worldwide, subject to product form, destination, carrier and regulatory restrictions.
Can Applied Physics produce custom silica particles?
Custom requirements can be evaluated. Feasibility, size tolerance, surface chemistry, medium, concentration, characterization, minimum quantity and lead time depend on the request.
Find the deeper answer
Use the technical clusters
Stability
Zeta potential, aggregation, dilution and storage.
Measurement
DLS, microscopy, DMA, distribution and traceability.
Applications
Semiconductor, optical, formulation and research.
Sources and verification
Technical basis
- NIST measurement protocols — Method and measurand framework used across the answers.
- NIST traceability policy — Traceability definition and boundaries.
- Applied Physics silica product families — Commercial family reference.
Commercial specifications should be confirmed against the current Applied Physics quotation, certificate, lot documentation and product page before purchase or protocol use.
Applied Physics technical pathway
Need a particle specification reviewed?
Send the target size, medium, concentration, application, certificate requirements and shipping destination. Applied Physics can evaluate the appropriate silica family or custom pathway.