-45μm
20 ~ 70mm
Granules
In 1961, we became the first in Japan to successfully manufacture silicon monoxide (SiO).
Since then, in close link with SiO users, we have been keeping efforts to improve quality and to reduce
prices.
Membranes which are vapor-deposited with silicon monoxide (SiO) exhibit excellent barrier properties
preventing the permeation of water vapor and oxygen. It is on this basis that SiO is used for making gas
barrier packaging films. Our high-quality SiO already has a proven track record as a barrier material for food
packaging and commands the largest share of the industry market. The range of uses of SiO is also expanding to
other business area than packing. The range of uses of SiO is expanding, such as in solar cell back sheets,
where even greater barrier properties are required, and as industrial packaging.
Dramatic growth is also expected in its use in negative electrodes of lithium-ion rechargeable
batteries, which have high levels of energy density and are widely used as power sources for mobile phones and
laptop computers. The advancing functionality of these devices demands higher battery capacity, which in turn
requires development of a next-generation negative electrode material with a greater electricity storage
capacity than those of conventional materials. We have positioned SiO as the most important material for
next-generation negative electrode materials. In order to commercialize SiO, we are undergoing assessments by
our customers (battery manufacturers) and conducting research and development.
The most outstanding feature of our silicon monoxide is its high purity. Semiconductor silicon grade high purity silicon is used as the raw material, and the vacuum technology from titanium sponge manufacture is leveraged to ensure a reliable supply of high quality products that other manufacturers cannot come close to matching.
SiO (Barrier Film)