Benchmark replacement

A 1:1 alternative to SYLOID® ED 3

Censil351C is built to replace SYLOID® ED 3 as a fine, universal matting agent for waterborne wood and plastic coatings.

Quick answer

Which Censil grade replaces SYLOID® ED 3, and how close is it?

Censil351C runs finer than SYLOID® ED 3 — d50 4.8 – 5.1 μm against Grace's published 6.0 μm. That is a real difference and we are not going to paper over it: a finer d50 generally improves clarity and touch, and may need a small dosage adjustment to land the same gloss. Censil351C is also wax-modified where Grace lists ED 3 as untreated. Bench-trial at identical dosage first, then fine-tune within ±0.3%.

Physicochemical comparison

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

ParameterSYLOID® ED 3by W. R. Grace & Co.Censil351CFine, universal finish
Median particle size, d506.0 μm (average, light scattering)4.8 – 5.1 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%
Packaging15 kg bag20 kg multi-wall bag, palletized

SYLOID® ED 3 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

Censil351C runs finer than SYLOID® ED 3 — d50 4.8 – 5.1 μm against Grace's published 6.0 μm. That is a real difference and we are not going to paper over it: a finer d50 generally improves clarity and touch, and may need a small dosage adjustment to land the same gloss. Censil351C is also wax-modified where Grace lists ED 3 as untreated. Bench-trial at identical dosage first, then fine-tune within ±0.3%.

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

Censil351C is finer than SYLOID® ED 3. Won't that change my gloss?

It can. A finer d50 scatters light differently: expect better clarity and a smoother touch, and possibly a small gloss shift at identical dosage. Fine-tune within ±0.3% to land your target. If you need a closer particle-size match to 6.0 μm, tell us your system — Censil361C runs 5.9 – 6.2 μm.

Why not just match the particle size exactly?

Particle size is one of three levers; pore volume and surface treatment matter as much. Censil351C is tuned as a package for waterborne systems. Whether that package lands your finish is a question your own line answers in about a week.

SYLOID® ED 3 is untreated. Censil351C is wax-modified. Does that matter?

In a waterborne system it usually helps: the wax layer is the parameter behind anti-settling and surface touch. It is a deliberate difference, not a parity gap.

What is the pore volume of SYLOID® ED 3?

Grace does not publish a numerical pore volume or BET surface area for ED 3 in its EMEA product properties table. Censil351C is published at 1.6 – 1.8 mL/g and 250 – 280 m²/g.

How do I evaluate without risking production?

Free 2 kg sample, bench trial at your current dosage, compare gloss at 60° and 85°, clarity on a dark panel, touch and can stability. Typical evaluation cycle is 1–2 weeks.

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 3, 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.