SODIUM SILICATE SOLUTION
SKU: RXSOL-19-6605-320
Category: Construction Chem-67
Sodium silicate solution, also known as water glass or liquid glass, is a colorless, viscous, alkaline solution made by reacting silica sand and sodium carbonate at high temperatures. It is a water-soluble inorganic sodium salt with the general formula Na₂O·xSiO₂. The solution is known for its adhesive, binding, and film-forming properties, making it useful in various applications such as adhesives, cements, detergents, and drilling fluids.
PRECAUTION::
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Eye Protection: Wear chemical splash goggles or a face shield to prevent eye contact.
- Hand Protection: Wear chemical-resistant gloves, such as those made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or rubber.
- Skin and Body Protection: Wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin contact.
- Respiratory Protection: Use a respirator if there's a risk of inhaling dust, fumes, gas, mist, vapors, or spray.
Handling Precautions:
- Ventilation: Use sodium silicate solution only in a well-ventilated area or outdoors.
- Avoid Contact: Do not breathe dust, mist, or vapors.
- Cleanliness: Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling, and wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
- Emergency Response:
Eye Contact:
- Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, and continue rinsing. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.
Skin Contact:
- Gently wash with plenty of soap and water. If irritation persists, seek medical advice.
Inhalation:
- Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. Immediately call a poison center or doctor.
Spills:
- Soak up spills with inert solids like clay or diatomaceous earth. Transfer to a container for disposal or recovery.
Fire:
- Avoid breathing fire gases or vapors. Evacuate the area and use water spray to cool containers.
Storage:
- Store in a tightly closed container, in a dry place, and keep out of reach of children.
- Environmental Precautions:
- Do not allow spills to enter drains, sewers, or watercourses.
- If spillage enters watercourses or sewers, notify the appropriate authorities.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
- Appearance Colorless and opaque
- Density 1.36–1.47 grams per cubic centimeter, depending on composition
- pH 11–12.5 at 20°C
- Melting point 0°C
- Viscosity High, thick, and sticky, depending on concentration
- Solubility Fully soluble in water, but insoluble in alcohols and acids
- Hygroscopicity Absorbs moisture from the air
APPLICATION::
Industrial Applications:
- Detergents and Soaps: It acts as a binding agent and helps improve cleaning efficiency.
- Paper and Pulp: It's used in deinking processes and as a binder.
- Water Treatment: It functions as an iron flocculant and coagulant aid, and also helps with corrosion control and stabilization.
- Construction: Sodium silicate is used in cements, refractory materials, and as a binder for various construction components. It also acts as a sealer, waterproofing agent, and corrosion inhibitor.
- Foundry: It's used to create molds and cores in casting processes.
- Adhesives: It serves as a binder in various applications, including adhesives for paper and other materials.
- Refractory Applications: It's used in cements for high-temperature applications like stoves, furnaces, and chimneys.
- Timber Treatment: It can preserve wood from insects and offer some flame retardant properties.
- Soil Stabilization: It can be used to improve soil strength and load-bearing capacity.
- Automotive Repair: It's used to seal leaks in head gaskets and engine blocks.
Other Applications:
- Food Preservation: It's been used to preserve eggs and as a desiccant in food packaging.
- Ceramics: It's used as a deflocculant in slip preparation and can be applied to pottery for a hardened outer layer.
- Textiles: It's used in dyeing processes as a fixative and in textile manufacturing.
- Art Conservation: It's used in art restoration and preservation due to its adhesive and consolidating properties.
