Sodium silicate is stable in neutral and alkaline solutions. In acidic solutions, the silicate ion reacts with hydrogen ions to form silica acid, which when heated and roasted forms silica gel, a hard, glassy substance.



Uses of Sodium Silicate

?Egg Preservation - Sodium silicate is used as an egg preservation agent. Eggs can remain fresh by using Sodium Silicate preservation method for up to nine months.

?Automotive repair - One of the popular uses of Sodium silicate is seal leaks at the head gasket.

?Cement uses - Sodium silicate has been widely used as general-purpose cement, especially for applications involving cementing objects exposed to heat or fire.

?Timber treatment - Treating wood with sodium silicate preserves wood from insects and possesses some flame-retardant properties.

?Concrete and masonry treatment - Concrete treated with a sodium silicate solution helps to significantly reduce porosity in masonry products like concrete and plasters. Applying Sodium Silicate with concrete permanently binds the silicates with the surface making them far more wearable and water repellent. These coatings are known as silicate mineral paint.

?Water Treatment - Sodium Silicate is used in water treatment in wastewater treatment plants. Water glass used to bind heavier molecules and drag them out of the water.

?Refractory use - Water glass is useful binder of solids, like vermiculite and perlite. When blended with these lightweight aggregates, water glass can be used to make hard, high-temperature insulation boards used for refractoriness?, passive fire protection and high temperature insulations, such as mounded pipe insulation applications.