Sodium Silicates

Your source for sodium silicate

Sodium silicate, CAS# 1344-09-8, is the generic name for a series of compounds derived from soluble sodium silicate glasses. They are water solutions of sodium oxide (Na2O) a and silicon dioxide (SiO2) combined in two various ratios. Varying the proportions of SiO2 to O2 Na2O and the solids content results in solutions with two differing properties that have many diversified industrial applications.

Univar Solutions offers standard commercial grades of liquid sodium silicates ranging in weight ratio of SiO2 to Na2O from 1.6 to 3.3.2.  In addition to liquid sodium silicates, Univar Solutions supplies sodium silicate glass briquettes.  Glass briquettes are dissolved on-site by some large volume consumers when freight savings can justify the equipment and labor costs involved.  

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 alkali/silica ratio and the solids content.