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Sodium silicate, composed of sodium, silica, and oxygen, is used in automotive repair, concrete treatment, and as a refractory. Sodium metasilicate is used in detergents, while sodium aluminum silicate forms minerals and is used as a food additive and in laundry detergents.
Sodium silicate is one of several chemicals composed of sodium, silica, and oxygen. The term is often used to refer to sodium metasilicate, also called liquid glass. Sodium silicate melts at a very high temperature, making it useful for commercial ignition.
A sodium silicate compound contains sodium oxide, Na2O and silica, Si2O or a mixture of these compounds. They can be associated with up to nine water molecules, or lack water and be known as anhydrous. These compounds can be solid or liquid. The solid version is widely used to make silica gel, a common drying agent.
The combination of being liquid and resistant to high heat makes these compounds useful for automotive repair. A sodium silicate solution is circulated by the radiator to seal leaks in the cylinder head gasket. This solution can also be used in place of engine oil to permanently disable a car’s engine before the car’s destruction. The liquid version is also useful for treating concrete to make it more water repellent.
Aqueous solutions of sodium silicate bind solids well, forming insulating boards that tolerate high temperatures. This property allows them to be used as a refractory, retaining strength at high temperatures. For this reason they can be used as linings in furnaces and glass-making equipment. When waterproofed, they can be used as passive fire protection, e.g. incorporated into plastic pipework, to form firestops.
Sodium metasilicate is a strong base that is used in a variety of detergents as a replacement for phosphates, which have been responsible for a great deal of water pollution, causing algal blooms. It works mainly by changing the pH of the water to inactivate the water hardness. Technically, it is known as a builder.
Another compound of sodium silicate is sodium aluminum silicate, also known as sodium aluminum silicate. It is composed of sodium, silica, oxygen and aluminum. It can also be found in anhydrous form, or in combination with water.
Sodium aluminum silicate can form very attractive minerals, including jadeite, which comprises a form of the gemstone jade. Another mineral is albite. These minerals are anhydrous.
There is a synthetic, industrial form of sodium aluminum silicate that contains water. It is known as synthetic amorphous sodium aluminosilicate. This is a common food additive, used as an anti-caking agent that keeps powdered foods free from lumps.
Another commercial use of sodium aluminum silicate is the production of synthetic zeolites. These are compounds that are highly porous minerals and are strongly absorbent. They are commonly used as components of laundry detergents.
