Potassium Silicates are produced by melting potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) with specially selected silica sand at high temperatures. The resulting product is an amorphous crystal that can be dissolved by special processes to produce solutions in a wide variety of forms.
Appearance: Viscous liquid
Odor: Odorless
Composition
Table
Ingredients
Synonym
Nº CAS
%
EC Nº
Potassium Silicate
Aqueous Potassium Silicate
1312-76-1
31.00–47.0
215-199-1
Applications
In the welding industry
Manufacture of electric arc welding electrodes. Silicates play a fundamental role as a binder for the various solid components that make up the electrode rod.
In the soap industry
Soaps. Potassium silicates are recommended for liquid and bar soaps. They increase the foaming capacity of these soaps, effectively suspend dirt, and prevent the redeposition of washed-away dirt. Potassium silicates offer the advantages of greater solubility and miscibility than sodium silicates.
In the construction industry:
Cements. The high refractoriness of potassium silicate makes it suitable for use in specialty refractories. It can be used in chemical-resistant mortars.
Other applications:
Silica gel: It can be used to manufacture special catalysts when the presence of sodium ions is undesirable. Potassium silicate gels have also been used as culture media in plant physiology, mycology, etc.
Antifreeze: Potassium silicates can be used in ethylene glycol antifreeze formulations to protect ferrous metal parts in engines. Potassium silicates are preferred over sodium silicates for this application because they have a much higher tolerance for glycols than sodium silicates.
