Technical Brochure

Version 2 – 28/11/2016

Sodium Metasilicate: Green and Efficiënt

Silmaco has been actively operating in the world of silicate for 25
years. As a small family-run business, nowadays our company
supplies 50 countries worldwide. By constantly developing new
products and services for our customers, we are known as a
particularly innovative and flexible player in the silicate industry.
We have turned our small size into our biggest asset. We have a
close relationship with our customers and respond quickly and
appropriately to your questions, problems or requests. Our strengths make us the smart choice for
you in the silicate industry. Silmaco produces the complete range of liquid sodium silicates and
granulated sodium metasilicates. As we only use the purest raw materials, our finished products are
of “premium” quality!

Complete range
Sodium metasilicates are characterized by a SiO2/Na2O ratio of approximately one.
Silmaco produces sodium metasilicate anhydrous, -pentahydrate and -
nonahydrate. These grades differ in terms of concentration. As shown in Table 1,
a variety of grain sizes are available.

The advantage with Sodium Metasilicate Anhydrous is the high active content
which makes it possible to formulate high concentrated products. Whereas
Sodium Metasilicate Pentahydate and Nonahydrate offers the benefit of a high
dissolution speed.

Properties and advantages

 Sodium metasilicate dissolves easily, even in cold water.
 Our granules are characterized by a high bulk density and a low dust content.
 As a highly alkaline product, sodium metasilicate will easily react with CO2. Our production
methods are such that the risk of partial inactivity due to CO2 contamination is minimal as there
is no contact between our products and the combustion gasses. This way, we can guarantee a
pure sodium metasilicate.

SILMACO N.V. – Industriezone 8, nr. 8079 – Industrieweg 90 – B-3620 LANAKEN 1

Tel. +32 (0)89/730.222 - Fax +32 (0)89/722.724 - E-mail: info@silmaco.com - BTW nr.: 0432.069.870 - Web: www.silmaco.com
 Technical Brochure
Version 2 – 28/11/2016

Table 1. An overview of SILMACO’s SODIUM METASILICATES

Grade Molar Conc Form Particle Size Bulk

Ratio (%) (micron) density
(g/L)
Anhydrous FE 0,96 97 Powder 0 - 250 1.100
FA 0,96 97 Granular 200 - 630 1.100
FB 0,96 97 630 - 1250 1.100
FC 0,96 97 200 - 1250 1.100
Pentahydrate Fine 1,03 57 Granular 200 – 1250 950
Medium 1,03 57 200 – 1600 950
Nonahydrate Standard 1,04 46 Granular 200 – 1600 850

Figure 1. Speed of dissolution of Silmaco’s Sodium Figure 2. Solubility of Sodium Metasilicate

Metasilicate Grades Anhydrous and Pentahydrate in function of
temperature

Dissolved Solubility
(%) (g/l)

100 4000
90
3500
80
70 3000
60
2500
50
40 2000
30
1500
20
10 1000
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 500
Time (s) 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Anhydrous FA Anhydrous FB Temperature (°C)
Anhydrous FE Pentahydrate Fine
Pentahydrate Anhydrous
Pentahydrate Medium Nonahydrate Standard

SILMACO N.V. – Industriezone 8, nr. 8079 – Industrieweg 90 – B-3620 LANAKEN 2

Tel. +32 (0)89/730.222 - Fax +32 (0)89/722.724 - E-mail: info@silmaco.com - BTW nr.: 0432.069.870 - Web: www.silmaco.com
 Technical Brochure
Version 2 – 28/11/2016

Applications

Cement, Concrete and Refractories

Because of its absolutely inorganic compositon, Silmaco's Sodium
Metasilicate is especially suited for use in certain fire-resistant applications.
The product is found in applications where components must be protected
against high temperatures. Especially the hydrated sodium metasilicates
have an excellent cooling effect. They are used in manufacturing
refractory and chemically-resistant bricks, mortars, and gunning
mixes. They are also added to the matrix to increase the alkalinity which promotes a faster dissolution
of other silicate powders present in the formulation.

Sodium metasilicates can be added into dry cement admixtures to accelerate the set. Silmaco's Sodium
Metasilicates are especially used in oil well cements to prevent segregation of the solids from the
high water containing cement matrix.

Ceramics
In the ceramic industry, a part of the water in clay slurries can be replaced by sodium
metasilicate to improve the liquid characteristics which results in energy saving at
the drying stage. Sodium metasilicate acts as a deflocculant, it adsorbs onto the clay
surface and causes the clay particles to repel one another. Preferred grades are
sodium metasilicate pentahydrate and nonahydrate.

Cosmetics
Sodium Metasilicate is an inorganic salt. In cosmetics this ingredient is mainly
used in hair bleaching as peroxide bleach stabilizer.

Sodium Metasilicate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products

marketed in Europe according to regulation 1223/2009/EC and subsequent
amendments.

Detergents
Sodium metasilicates are very important ingredients in liquid and powder
detergents for professional and industrial applications. They contain an
optimum portion of alkali and soluble silica.

Their high active alkalinity provides an efficïent cleaning and makes

Silmaco’s Sodium Metasilicate an economical choice. The soluble silica
content protects metal, glass and ceramic surfaces against corrosion and
disperses the soil in solution and prevents it form redepositing.

SILMACO N.V. – Industriezone 8, nr. 8079 – Industrieweg 90 – B-3620 LANAKEN 3

Tel. +32 (0)89/730.222 - Fax +32 (0)89/722.724 - E-mail: info@silmaco.com - BTW nr.: 0432.069.870 - Web: www.silmaco.com
 Technical Brochure
Version 2 – 28/11/2016

The large buffering capacity, their stabilizing effect of the bleach proces, the protective properties
against corrosion, their hardness-binding capacity, their ability to keep removed dirt in suspension
makes sodium metasilicates a multifunctional and indispensible ingredient in your detergent
formulations.

Sodium Metasilicate is especially suitable for hard surface cleaning and in professional and industrial
dishwashing detergents.

Grouting

The construction of tunnels can be a hazardous operation. Direct injection of

soluble silicates in combination with a hardener, gives consolidation of the ground
and water-impermeabitlity by in-situ formation of a siliceous gel, which
strengthens and seals the soil.
Sodium metasilicates are used in dry mixtures composed of inorganic compounds
which hardens in reaction with water.

Mining
Flotation is a widely used process for extracting many minerals from
their ores. Silmaco’s sodium metasilicate is used as dispersant to keep
undesired materials in suspension while the value minerals are carried
to the surface by air bubbles.

Newsprint deinking
Sodium metasilicate plays a multifunctional and vital role in the
deinking of paper. Its alkaline buffering and saponification properties
helps in the dispersion of the ink particles and improves flotation. In
addition it stabilises the hydrogen peroxide used to bleach the pulp.

SILMACO N.V. – Industriezone 8, nr. 8079 – Industrieweg 90 – B-3620 LANAKEN 4

Tel. +32 (0)89/730.222 - Fax +32 (0)89/722.724 - E-mail: info@silmaco.com - BTW nr.: 0432.069.870 - Web: www.silmaco.com
 Technical Brochure
Version 2 – 28/11/2016

Oil and drilling

Sodium metasilicates are used in silicate-based drilling fluids, which
are an effective, versatile and low cost alternative to oil-based drilling
fluids. Besides sodium metasilicates are wholly inorganic and therefore
not flammable and once diluted they have no environmental impact.
Granulated metasilicates offers an advantage towards liquid silicates
when conditions request, such as limited storage capacity or danger
towards freezing temperatures. Silmaco's sodium metasilicates are
very performant in normal and heavyweight slurries for reducing the mobility of water. They are
widely used as a cost effective extender, allowing a higher ratio of water to cement. They can also be
used as a cement accelator.

Packaging and Storage

Sodium Metasilicate is available in bags of 25 kg, bigbags and bulk. The product should be kept in a
dry storage because of its affinity for moisture.

Environment
Because of its inorganic character, Sodium Metasilicates do not significantly
influence the natural cycles. After being used, they mostly occur in a highly diluted
liquid form and do not have a relevant influence on the enviroment. Only
concentrated solutions may cause adverse effects on aquatic biosystems.
Therefore neutralisation should be carried out before discharging to water /
effluent systems. The silica ending up in the environment will be absorbed in the
natural cycles of this material and recycle itself.

Safety and Handling

Sodium Metasilicates are strongly alkaline products and therefore classified as dangerous goods. They
should be handled with care in order to prevent injuries. Whenever disodium metasilicate as a
substance on its own or in a preparation is handled outside closed systems, suitable personal
protective equipment (gloves, goggles, dust masks or respirators) is the preferred and only measure
of control. We strongly advise to carefully read our corresponding Material Safety Datasheet before
using the product.

SILMACO N.V. – Industriezone 8, nr. 8079 – Industrieweg 90 – B-3620 LANAKEN 5

Tel. +32 (0)89/730.222 - Fax +32 (0)89/722.724 - E-mail: info@silmaco.com - BTW nr.: 0432.069.870 - Web: www.silmaco.com