Description

Sodium Silicate Supplier — Water Glass for Detergent, Construction, Foundry & Water Treatment Applications

Sodium Silicate (Na2SiO3, commonly called ‘water glass’, CAS 1344-09-8) is one of the oldest and most versatile industrial chemicals, serving as a critical ingredient in detergent manufacturing, construction materials, metal casting, water treatment, adhesives, and refractory coatings for over a century. This alkaline, glassy solid or viscous aqueous solution is produced by fusing high-purity silica sand with sodium carbonate in a furnace at temperatures exceeding 1200 °C, followed by dissolution in water to produce liquid sodium silicate solutions at various ratios of SiO2 to Na2O. The SiO2:Na2O weight ratio (commonly expressed as the ‘ratio’ and ranging from 1.6 to 3.3) is the single most important specification parameter — it determines the product’s alkalinity, viscosity, solubility, and application suitability.

Lower-ratio silicates (1.6-2.0) are highly alkaline and fast-reacting, making them ideal for detergent builders and corrosion inhibition, while higher-ratio silicates (2.4-3.3) are less alkaline with higher silica content, suited for passive fire protection, foundry binders, and cementitious applications. In India’s detergent industry, sodium silicate is the second-largest detergent builder after STPP, providing alkalinity, soil suspension, corrosion inhibition, and anti-caking properties to detergent powders. Davar ChemTech supplies sodium silicate in both solid (glass lumps and powder) and liquid solution forms across a range of SiO2:Na2O ratios with full analytical documentation and application-specific technical advisory.

Key Technical Features

• Liquid sodium silicate solutions available in SiO2:Na2O ratios of 1.6, 2.0, 2.4, 2.8, and 3.2 for tailored application performance
• Solid sodium silicate in glass lump and powder form (ratio 2.0-3.3) for customers requiring dry blending or self-dissolution
• Detergent-grade liquid silicate with tight Fe and heavy metal specifications to prevent staining and colour degradation
• Modulus and density customization available for specific customer formulation requirements
• Supplied in 200L HDPE carboys and drums, 1000L IBC totes, and bulk road tankers (liquid); 50 kg PP bags (solid powder)
• Full COA with SiO2:Na2O ratio, density, total solids, Fe content, and viscosity parameters per consignment

Industrial Applications

In detergent powder manufacturing, sodium silicate functions as a multi-role builder that delivers alkalinity, soil suspension, corrosion inhibition, and processing benefits simultaneously. Its alkaline nature (pH 11-13 depending on ratio) saponifies fatty soils and oils, converting them into water-soluble soaps that can be rinsed away during the wash cycle. Simultaneously, the silicate anion acts as a deflocculant and dispersant, keeping removed soil particles suspended in the wash liquor and preventing them from redepositing onto cleaned fabrics — a function that is critical to achieving acceptable whiteness retention after repeated wash cycles.

The corrosion inhibition property of sodium silicate is particularly important in front-loading washing machines, where the steel drum, heating element, and other metallic components are continuously exposed to alkaline wash solutions. Silicate forms a thin protective film on metal surfaces that prevents caustic attack by other detergent alkalis (soda ash, NaOH), extending machine service life by 2-3 years in hard water areas. In the foundry industry, sodium silicate is the dominant inorganic binder for sand mould and core production using the CO2 curing process. The silicate solution is mixed with silica sand and the resulting sand-silicate mixture is packed into a pattern.

When CO2 gas is passed through the compacted sand, the sodium silicate undergoes rapid gelation, forming a hard, rigid mould that can withstand the temperatures and mechanical forces of molten metal pouring. The cured mould is dimensionally accurate, produces excellent surface finish on castings, and collapses cleanly after cooling for easy sand removal. In passive fire protection, sodium silicate-based coatings (ratio 3.0-3.3) are applied to structural steel, concrete, and wood substrates where they form an intumescent, insulating char layer when exposed to fire, providing 60-120 minutes of fire resistance rating depending on coating thickness.

Technical Specifications

Storage, Handling & Safety

Sodium silicate solutions are strongly alkaline (pH 11-13) and classified under GHS as Skin Corrosion/Irritation Category 1B and Serious Eye Damage Category 1. Concentrated solutions can cause severe chemical burns on skin and permanent eye damage. Always wear chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile), chemical splash goggles, face shield, and protective clothing when handling concentrated liquid sodium silicate. Solid sodium silicate powder is less immediately hazardous but can cause skin and eye irritation with prolonged contact — use dust mask to avoid inhalation of fine powder during handling and transfer. When dissolved in water, solid silicate generates significant heat — add solid slowly to water with stirring, never add water to solid silicate.

Store liquid sodium silicate in HDPE or PP containers. Do not store in aluminium containers — the strong alkalinity will rapidly corrode aluminium, generating hydrogen gas and creating a fire/explosion hazard. SS304/316 is acceptable for storage and processing with proper passivation. Glass-lined steel tanks are ideal for bulk storage. Sodium silicate solutions gradually thicken and can gel at low temperatures (below 5 °C) — store above 10 °C. For spills, dilute with large volumes of water and contain run-off. Neutralize residual alkalinity with dilute acetic acid before disposal. Sodium silicate is not classified as flammable or as a marine pollutant.

Supply Capability & Distribution Strength

Davar ChemTech supplies sodium silicate across India from our Vadodara, Gujarat distribution center with dedicated liquid chemical storage infrastructure. Our supply network serves detergent manufacturers in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and UP — India’s four largest detergent-producing states; foundries and metal casting units in Rajkot, Kolhapur, Coimbatore, and Belgaum; construction chemical manufacturers in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad; water treatment companies serving municipal and industrial water systems across all regions; and passive fire protection coating applicators in India’s growing commercial construction sector. We maintain warehoused stock of liquid sodium silicate (ratios 2.0 and 3.2) in 200L HDPE drums and IBC totes for immediate dispatch. Custom ratio solutions (1.6, 2.4, 2.8) and solid sodium silicate are available on 5-7 day lead times. Bulk road tanker deliveries (15-20 MT) are arranged on 7-10 day lead times. Full Certificate of Analysis, Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and batch traceability documentation provided with every consignment.

Get in Touch

Whether you need alkaline builder silicate for detergent formulation, CO2-cured foundry binder, or corrosion-inhibiting boiler water treatment chemical, Davar ChemTech delivers sodium silicate in the right ratio, form, and grade for your application. Contact us for ratio selection guidance, COAs, or competitive bulk pricing — we respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.