Sodium silicate is the generic name
for a series of
compounds derived from soluble sodium silicate glasses.
They are water solutions of sodium oxide (Na20)
and silicon dioxide (SiO2) combined in
various ratios. Varying the proportions of SiO2 to
Na20 and the solids content results in solutions with
differing properties that have many diversified
industrial applications.
Occidental Chemical Corporation’s standard
commercial grades of liquid sodium silicates range in
weight ratio of SiO2 to Na2O from 1.6 to 3.3.
In addition to liquid sodium silicates, OxyChem
produces sodium silicate glass briquettes, as well as
metasilicates in granular anhydrous (S-25) and
pentahydrate forms (Uniflo26). Glass briquettes are
dissolved on-site by some large volume consumers
when freight savings can justify the equipment and
labor costs involved. The sodium metasilicates are
primarily used in cleaning compounds. Special
technical bulletins for these compounds are available
on request.
Sodium silicate glass is made by fusing high purity
silica sand and soda ash in open hearth furnaces at
1300oC/2400oF. The molten glass is cooled,
fractured,
and charged into vessels where it is dissolved under
pressure by hot water and steam. The various grades
of liquid sodium silicate are produced by varying the
silica/alkalai ratio and the solids content.
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