Benchmark replacement

A 1:1 alternative to SYLOID® ED 30

Two Censil grades map to SYLOID® ED 30, depending on the finish you're after. Both are wax-modified precipitated silicas for waterborne wood and plastic coatings, at 20–30% lower cost.

Quick answer

Which Censil grade replaces SYLOID® ED 30, and how close is it?

Censil660 (d50 5.0 – 5.3 μm) is the closest particle-size match to SYLOID® ED 30 and the one to start with for water-white clear topcoats. Censil1650A (d50 6.2 – 6.5 μm) runs coarser and is the choice when you want a lower-gloss, deep-matte surface. Grace publishes ED 30 at 5.5 μm with organic surface treatment; we publish pore volume and surface area, which Grace does not.

Physicochemical comparison

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

ParameterSYLOID® ED 30by W. R. Grace & Co.Censil660Lead — high-clarity water-whiteCensil1650ALead — low-gloss deep-matte
Median particle size, d505.5 μm (average, light scattering)5.0 – 5.3 μm6.2 – 6.5 μm
Pore volumeNot stated in cited source1.6 – 1.8 mL/g1.6 – 1.8 mL/g
Specific surface areaNot stated in cited source250 – 280 m²/g250 – 280 m²/g
Surface treatmentOrganicWax-modified (organic / PE-wax; grade-dependent)Wax-modified (organic / PE-wax; grade-dependent)
pH7.06.0 – 8.0 (5% susp.)6.0 – 8.0 (5% susp.)
Oil absorption300 g/100gNot stated in cited sourceNot stated in cited source
SiO2 content, dryNot stated in cited source≥ 99%≥ 99%
Recommended dosageNot stated in cited source1 – 4%1 – 4%
Packaging15 kg bag20 kg multi-wall bag, palletized20 kg multi-wall bag, palletized

SYLOID® ED 30 column — W. R. Grace & Co. — SYLOID® Matting Agents for Coatings and Printing Inks, Technical Information, Product Properties EMEA Region, DOC062 (© 2021). Positioning note — grace.com — SYLOID® Silica Matting Agents, product line page (accessed 16 Jul 2026). 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

Censil660 (d50 5.0 – 5.3 μm) is the closest particle-size match to SYLOID® ED 30 and the one to start with for water-white clear topcoats. Censil1650A (d50 6.2 – 6.5 μm) runs coarser and is the choice when you want a lower-gloss, deep-matte surface. Grace publishes ED 30 at 5.5 μm with organic surface treatment; we publish pore volume and surface area, which Grace does not.

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

Is Censil660 a drop-in replacement for SYLOID® ED 30?

It is built as one: start at the same dosage you run today, then fine-tune within ±0.3% to land your target gloss. Datasheet parity is the starting point — the replacement is confirmed on your own line. We ship a free 2 kg sample with a 1:1 benchmark sheet for exactly this.

Should I choose Censil660 or Censil1650A?

Censil660 (d50 5.0 – 5.3 μm) for water-white clear topcoats where transparency and wood-grain depth matter. Censil1650A (d50 6.2 – 6.5 μm) for low-gloss deep-matte surfaces. If you're replacing ED 30 in a clear topcoat, start with Censil660.

Grace lists SYLOID® ED 30 for solvent-based systems. Does that matter?

Grace positions the ED series for solvent-based wood coatings and recommends its AQ, W and 7000 series for waterborne. Many Southeast Asian formulators nevertheless run ED 30 in waterborne systems. Censil grades are engineered for waterborne from the start — that is the point of the range.

What is the pore volume and surface area of SYLOID® ED 30?

Grace does not publish numerical pore volume or BET surface area for ED 30 in its EMEA product properties table — only a graphical matting-efficiency chart. Censil660 and Censil1650A are published at 1.6 – 1.8 mL/g pore volume and 250 – 280 m²/g surface area.

What does switching cost, and what is the MOQ?

20–30% below imported ED 30 pricing, factory-direct with no distributor margin. First orders are flexible at 500 kg to 1 ton — not the 5–10 tons or full container multinational suppliers typically require.

What documentation do I get?

A 1:1 physicochemical benchmark sheet against ED 30, the relevant TDS, SDS, COA per batch, and a REACH Declaration of Conformity.

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 30, 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.