1. Detergents

Sodium Silicate is widely used in detergent manufacture as they possess highly efficient cleaning property. They act as wetting agent, in emulsification, Control of the corrosive effect of alkali on sensitive metals, particularly in the presence of synthetic detergents, penetrating through oily dirt's and prevention of dirt re deposits. The unique advantage of Silicates over other alkaline salts is that they contain soluble silica.

2. Refractory

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.

3. Drilling Mud Fluid

Various postulations have been advanced to explain the chemical phenomenon of soluble silicates stabilizing what are typically characterized as "troublesome" shales. Using a high ratio silicate product at low concentrations will allow the silica molecules to gel and polymerize when they come into contact with connate waters, typically pH 7.0-8.0. This gelation process plugs any pore spaces or micro-fractures available, preventing water from de-stabilizing the rock formations.

4. Foundry

Sodium Silicate is used as a binder that holds the sand together in cores. It is mixed with sand to form core binder. Cores are used to create hollow cavaties in the interior of castings. In the sand cast process, sand is mixed with a liquid silicate to form a core that is strong enough to withstand the pressure of the molten metal.

5. Textile processing & Dyeing

Sodium Silicate is extensively used i n the pad-batch dyeing process (in reactive dyes) where silicates provide alkalinity and buffering necessary to maintain the required pH for the dyeing process. These processes are preferred over other dyeing processes because they use less water, exhibit better dye bonding, can be operated at lower temperatures, and have batch to batch uniformity.

6. Adhesives

Sodium Silicates is widely used in adhesive production. It is also used a s medium for paper and board products. In paper tube and drum winding, soluble silicates are used to produce rigid, high strength products ideal for heavy duty applications.

They are also used in the production of laminate board and in the lamination of aluminum foil with paper.

7. Water and Wastewater Treatment

Sodium silicates are used for several different functions in the water industry as flocculant agent, in complexation of iron and manganese to prevent discoloration, as Corrosion prevention in potable and industrial distribution pipelines, as a key component of proprietary formulations to prevent corrosion to boilers, radiators and piping in commercial and domestic heating systems.

8. Soil Grouting and Stabilization

The construction of tunnels can be a hazardous operation, particularly in wet and/or weak ground. Direct injection of silicates in combination with a hardener gives consolidation of the ground and water-impermeability by in-situ formation of a siliceous gel, which strengthens and seals the soil.

9. Ceramics

Silicates are used as plasticizers in the ceramics industry, particularly in the production of floor and wall tiles. The complex polyvalent silicate anion interacts with the surface of the clays used causing deflocculating. This allows the preparation of high solids, low viscosity systems which are easily handled and pumped. The high solids contents of these slurries reduce the energy costs involved in drying the clay prior to final firing in a kiln.

10. Welding Electrodes

Welding rods consist of a variety of mineral and metal powders bound together with sodium and potassium silicate. Silicates act as both a binder and a fluxing agent. Specialized electrodes, e.g. for stainless steel, use complex mixed silicate systems containing sodium, potassium and even lithium.

11. Automative Repair

Sodium silicate can be used in older automobiles to seal leaks in the cooling system. A jar of "liquid glass" is poured into the radiator and allowed to circulate. Minute holes and gaps are sealed, often curing radiator leaks and faulty cylinder-head gaskets. This approach is often used by disreputable used-car salespersons.

12. Egg preservation

Sodium silicate was also used as an egg preservation agent. 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.

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