What are the Uses and Applications of Liquid and Solid Sodium Silicate?

When ingredients are combined with silicate cement, they react chemically to form substances with strong binding properties. A variety of silicate cements are available, both in powder form and in solutions. Silicates are important ingredients in specialty no-bake refractories and chemically resistant mortars. The advantages of soluble silicates as binders are:

 

1. Temperature resistance

2. Acid resistance

3. Resistance to solvents after use

4. Ease of use

5. Safety

6. Low cost

Dry silicate films are not affected by grease, tallow, and mineral or other types of oils. When applied to paper or wood products, they are fire resistant and pest- and grease-proof. Water resistance can be increased by adding heavy metal oxides, insoluble carbonate agents, inorganic polymers or mineral sealants such as mica. The silicates form protective layers on metals for corrosion control in water lines.

When silicates are used with alum, ferric salts or other coagulants in the treatment of untreated water, they increase the rate of flocculation, including size, density and strength. The addition of sodium silicate can be a simple and economical method of controlling the iron and / or excessive manganese contained in many water supply systems. Many natural water supplies with the presence of iron and / or manganese that fail to respond to the regular procedures to remove them can be improved by silicate treatment.

Sodium silicate is a well known binder for sand casting and is compatible with the starch and dextrin used in the preparation of casting materials. SIDESA silicates successfully replace the vegetable oil and more expensive resins that form certain types of molds. The mold compounds based on silicates produce a hard layer at moderate temperatures, are appropriately porous for the release of hot gases, and have good collapsibility. For rapid production methods, sodium silicates are used in combination with acid gas reactions from the carbon dioxide process. Further, self-hardening casting molds can be achieved by using a binder made from a Portland cement mix or organic esters of sodium silicate.

Soluble silicates are used in numerous processes for the concentration of minerals. The main use of sodium silicate in mineral flotation is as a depressant and means of scattering minerals not desired. In general, only a small amount of silicate is needed, similar to the concentrations used in cleaning operations. Sometimes, given the ability of a silicate to react or precipitate heavy metal ions to form a layer of sodium ions in a particular area, it is important to prepare the surface or to make a selective separation. The sodium silicate also helps prevent corrosion, thereby reducing wear on milling equipment.

Sodium silicates have many applications in the textile workshops. In bleaching operations, silicate stabilizers reduce the rate of decomposition of the bleaching agent. This prevents the damage that occurs in the fiber by allowing a change in pH. The sodium silicate is applied in the pretreatment of fabric and fibers to remove wax, grease and cotton lint. The appropriate choice of the ratio of solid silicate produces better cleaning and prevents re-deposit of the dirt.

The natural adhesive properties of silicates and their abilities to provide rapid setting, strong drying, and a waterproof layer at low cost, have resulted in their use in applications such as pelletizing, briquetting and synthesizing minerals. Silicates also serve as an aid in the process of nodulation and stretching.

 

For the agglomeration of materials that are extracted, processed or recovered in very small forms, silicates remove dust and improve heat transfer in the drying, calcination and smelting processes. The elimination of this dust can reduce or eliminate air and water pollution, as well as internal layers or rings in a drying oven, and enhance storage and transportation.

 

Pelletizing is a process in which a material is formed into small, moist pieces. Fine silicate particles are added to aid in the formation of pellets and to increase the strength of the granules formed in the drying and firing stages. In the process of stretching, compression and agglomeration, silicate acts as a lubricant and/or binder that improves the flow characteristics and physical properties of the product.