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The main product of the precipitated silica business is silica (SiO2), which is produced by reaction of sodium silicate with mineral acid. Tokuyama sells silica under the TOKUSIL and FINESIL brand names.
Precipitated silica is used in various applications such as for reinforcing synthetic rubber, surface coatings on inkjet paper for color printers (ink adsorbent), film antiblocking, and as a matting agent for synthetic leather. Precipitated silica's largest application is in tires. In contrast to carbon black, which is known as a tire filler-reinforcing agent, precipitated silica is white in color and thus called White Carbon. In recent years, tests have shown that tires filled with silica offer improved fuel efficiency by reducing the rolling resistance of tires. Demand has been increasing for the tires compounded with precipitated silica. These tires not only serve filler-reinforcing roles, but also contribute to the reduction of environmental loads as required these days.
With so many applications, the market for precipitated silica is becoming more competitive, triggering the need for more competitiveness. Under these circumstances, in May 2004, Tokuyama formed a business partnership with Oriental Silicas Corporation, a manufacturer in Taiwan. As a result, Tokuyama Group has the largest total production capacity for precipitated silica in Asia, with six plants in four countries comprising Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and China. Tokuyama plans to promote sales under the unified brand TOKUSIL.
Also in the precipitated silica business, Tokuyama produces and sells the special calcium silicate FLORITE, which is used as an excipient absorbing effective components for pharmaceutical and other uses.
It also produces and sells basic magnesium carbonate, which is filler for natural rubber and synthetic resins, and also used in food additives. Tokuyama is one of the world's largest production capacities for basic magnesium carbonate.
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