Benchmark replacement

A 1:1 alternative to SYLOID® ED 2

Censil651 is built to replace SYLOID® ED 2 in waterborne systems where fine touch and a smooth appearance on thin films decide the job.

Quick answer

Which Censil grade replaces SYLOID® ED 2, and how close is it?

Censil651 runs at d50 4.9 – 5.2 μm against Grace's published 4.5 μm for SYLOID® ED 2 — slightly coarser, in the same fine-touch band. The bigger difference is deliberate: Grace lists ED 2 as untreated, while Censil651 is wax-modified. That wax layer is what controls anti-settling and surface touch in a waterborne system, where an untreated silica is more prone to hard sediment.

Physicochemical comparison

Each column reproduces figures from the publishing manufacturer’s own documentation, cited below the table.

ParameterSYLOID® ED 2by W. R. Grace & Co.Censil651Fine touch & smooth appearance
Median particle size, d504.5 μm (average, light scattering)4.9 – 5.2 μm
Pore volumeNot stated in cited source1.6 – 1.8 mL/g
Specific surface areaNot stated in cited source250 – 280 m²/g
Surface treatmentNone (untreated)Wax-modified (organic / PE-wax; grade-dependent)
pH7.06.0 – 8.0 (5% susp.)
Oil absorption320 g/100gNot stated in cited source
SiO2 content, dryNot stated in cited source≥ 99%
Recommended dosageNot stated in cited source1 – 4%
Packaging10 kg bag20 kg multi-wall bag, palletized

SYLOID® ED 2 column — W. R. Grace & Co. — SYLOID® Matting Agents for Coatings and Printing Inks, Technical Information, Product Properties EMEA Region, DOC062 (© 2021). Censil columns — Censilcoat published grade specification, products page. “Not stated in cited source” means the value does not appear in the document cited; no figure has been estimated, inferred, or transferred between columns.

The verdict

Censil651 runs at d50 4.9 – 5.2 μm against Grace's published 4.5 μm for SYLOID® ED 2 — slightly coarser, in the same fine-touch band. The bigger difference is deliberate: Grace lists ED 2 as untreated, while Censil651 is wax-modified. That wax layer is what controls anti-settling and surface touch in a waterborne system, where an untreated silica is more prone to hard sediment.

Datasheet parity is the starting point, not the proof. A 1:1 replacement is confirmed on your own line: run the Censil grade at the same dosage as your current import, compare gloss at 60° and 85°, clarity on a dark panel, touch and can stability — then fine-tune dosage within ±0.3%. Typical evaluation cycle is 1–2 weeks, and we ship a free 2 kg sample with a 1:1 benchmark sheet for exactly this.

Frequently asked questions

SYLOID® ED 2 is untreated and Censil651 is wax-modified. Is that still a 1:1 replacement?

The target is the finish, not the datasheet. The wax modification is what makes the grade behave in a waterborne system — it is the parameter behind anti-settling and touch. Run Censil651 at your current ED 2 dosage and compare gloss, clarity and touch on your own line.

Will the wax modification change my dispersion process?

No special equipment is required. Add the matting agent after resin letdown under moderate shear, as you would with any fine-particle silica.

What is the pore volume of SYLOID® ED 2?

Grace does not publish a numerical pore volume or BET surface area for ED 2 in its EMEA product properties table. Censil651 is published at 1.6 – 1.8 mL/g and 250 – 280 m²/g.

Does Censil651 cause hard sediment in storage?

The wax modification is specifically what addresses this. Ordinary untreated silica can hard-cake at the bottom of the can; verify on your own formulation with the free 2 kg sample before you commit.

What does switching cost, and what is the MOQ?

20–30% below imported pricing, factory-direct. First orders are flexible at 500 kg to 1 ton rather than a full container.

Test it on your own line — free.

Send your resin system, target gloss and the grade you use today. We’ll ship a free 2 kg sample with a 1:1 benchmark sheet against SYLOID® ED 2, the relevant TDS and a REACH Declaration of Conformity. We reply within 24 hours.

Request a Free 2 kg Sample

ACEMATT® is a registered trademark of Evonik Industries AG. SYLOID® and GRACE® are registered trademarks of W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. Censilcoat is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Evonik or W. R. Grace. Trademarks are used solely to identify the reference products a customer may currently use, for comparison purposes. Reference-grade figures are reproduced from the manufacturers’ published documentation as cited and were current on the page date; manufacturers may revise specifications without notice. Censil figures are typical guidance values — the controlled specification per grade is stated in the grade TDS. Performance must be verified by the customer under their own conditions.