Sodium Silicate Solution Q70
water glass / Liquid glass
| Code | Pack Size | Price (Inc. VAT + Postage) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36X | 50ml | £3.99 | Out of stock |
| 36Y | 100ml | £5.99 | Add to Cart |
| 36T | 250ml | £8.99 | Add to Cart |
| 36S | 500ml | £9.99 | Add to Cart |
| 36B1 | 1L | £15.49 | Add to Cart |
| 36L | 5L | £23.99 | Add to Cart |
| 36D | 20L | £49.99 | Add to Cart |
Sodium Silicate Q70
Molar Ratio: >3.2
Concentration: 32-40%
CAS No: 1344-09-8
EC No: 215-687-4
Viscosity: 70cP (20C)
Density: 1300-1420 Kg/m3
Uses
Metal repair
Sodium silicate is used, along with magnesium silicate in muffler repair and fitting paste. When dissolved in water, both sodium silicate, and magnesium silicate form a thick paste that is easy to apply. When the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine heats up to its operating temperature, the heat drives out all of the excess water from the paste. The silicate compounds that are left over have glass-like properties, making a somewhat permanent, brittle repair.
Automotive repair
Sodium silicate can be used to seal leaks at the head gasket. Rather than pull the head, a jar of "liquid glass" is poured into the radiator and allowed to circulate. The Waterglass is injected via the radiator water into the hotspot at the motor. This technique works because at 210 - 220 °F the sodium silicate loses water molecules to form a very powerful sealant that will not re-melt below 1500 °F. This approach is often used by disreputable used-car salespersons to disguise a leaking head gasket.
A sodium silicate repair of a leaking head gasket can hold for up to two years and even longer in some cases. The effect will be almost instant, and steam from the radiator water will stop coming out the exhaust within minutes of application. This repair only works with water to cylinder or water to Air applications and where the sodium silicate reaches the "conversion" temperature of 210 - 220 °F.
Cement uses
Sodium silicate has been widely used as a general purpose cement, but especially for applications involving cementing objects exposed to heat or fire. For example, sodium silicate has been provided in home first-aid kits and used in medical practice as a glue for holding human skin together at surface cuts. It has also been used as a general purpose paper cement.
Food preservation
Sodium silicate was also used as an egg preservation agent in the early 20th Century with large success. When fresh eggs are immersed in it, bacteria which cause the eggs to spoil are kept out and water is kept in. Eggs can be kept fresh using this method for up to nine months. When boiling eggs preserved this way, it is well advised to pin-prick the egg to allow steam to escape because the shell is no longer porous.
An article in The Mother Earth News offers actual test results for this and other methods of preservation. LINK
Timber treatment
Sodium silicate is used as a timber treatment to preserve wood from insects and possesses some flame-retardant properties.
Concrete and general masonry treatment
Concrete treated with a sodium silicate solution helps to significantly reduce porosity in most masonry products such as concrete, stucco, plasters. A chemical reaction occurs with the excess Ca(OH)2 in the concrete that permanently binds the silicates with the surface making them far more wearable and water repellent. It is generally advised to apply only after initial cure has taken place (7 days or so depending on conditions).
Refractory use
Water glass is a useful binder of solids, such as vermiculite and perlite. When blended with the aforementioned lightweight aggregates, water glass can be used to make hard, high-temperature insulation boards used for refractories, passive fire protection and high temperature insulations, such as moulded pipe insulation applications. When mixed with finely divided mineral powders, such as vermiculite dust (which is common scrap from the exfoliation process), one can produce high temperature adhesives. The intumescence disappears in the presence of finely divided mineral dust, whereby the waterglass becomes a mere matrix. Waterglass is inexpensive and abundantly available, which makes its use popular in many refractory applications.
Water Treatment
Water glass is used as a water treatment in waste water treatment plants. Waterglass will bind to heavier molecules and drag them out of the water.
Magic Crystals
Water glass was used in the magic crystal garden toys from the 1980\'s. When waterglass was combined with a selection of different metals in solution, the waterglass would cause the metals to precipitate. Each metal would precipitate separately causing a different color stalagmite.