Sodium Silicate Quartz

Sodium silicate is a family of compounds formed by the combination of sodium oxide and silicon dioxide in various ratios, known in industry as water glass. In the dry process, quartz sand and soda ash are melted together in a melting furnace; the resulting glassy mass is cooled and crushed, then dissolved in water under pressure to be converted into liquid sodium silicate. In the wet process, quartz is reacted directly with a sodium hydroxide solution in an autoclave. In both routes, the quality of the silica source is the main factor determining the color and clarity of the product and the amount of undissolved residue.

A high SiO₂ content and low impurities are the primary expectations from the quartz used in sodium silicate production. Iron oxide causes coloring of the product, while aluminum and alkaline earth compounds can reduce solubility and lead to a build-up of undissolved residue in the reactor. Seyman Maden's products pass through washing, drying and screening lines and are processed to values of SiO₂ above 98% and Fe₂O₃ below 0.1%. Keeping the clay and dust content low also reduces material losses caused by dusting during furnace feeding.

Grain size is the second critical parameter affecting melting or dissolution time. Excessively fine material creates carry-over and dusting losses during furnace feeding, while grains coarser than necessary cannot react fully and remain in the process as undissolved quartz. Sodium silicate plants therefore prefer to work with narrowly graded, homogeneous granular quartz fractions. Alongside controlled fractions such as 0.3-0.7 mm and 0.7-1.2 mm, Seyman Maden also supplies other ranges according to the furnace type and process method of the plant, together with a sieve analysis.