Overview
Water glass casting material, chemically known as sodium silicate, serves as a fundamental binder in metal casting operations. This inorganic compound has been used in foundries for over a century due to its excellent binding properties and thermal stability. In casting applications, water glass acts as both a binder for sand molds and a hardener when exposed to CO2 gas. The material offers significant advantages in precision casting processes, particularly for ferrous and non-ferrous metals where dimensional accuracy is critical.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Water glass casting material appears as a viscous liquid or glassy solid, with its physical state depending on water content. The solution typically has a density of 1.35-1.50 g/cm³ and demonstrates strong alkaline properties with a pH of 11-13. Chemically, sodium silicate solutions exhibit unique gelation behavior when exposed to CO2 or acidic conditions, making them ideal for mold hardening. The material's binding strength depends on the modulus (SiO2:Na2O ratio), which commonly ranges from 2.0 to 3.3 for casting applications. Higher modulus grades provide better heat resistance but require more careful handling.
Main Applications
The primary use of water glass in casting is for creating molds and cores in foundry operations. It's particularly valuable in investment casting and shell molding processes where precision is paramount. Beyond traditional foundry applications, water glass serves as a refractory binder for furnace linings and ceramic molds. Some specialized uses include creating expendable molds for aerospace components and as a binder in 3D printed sand molds for complex geometries. The material's environmental advantages over organic binders have increased its adoption in green foundry initiatives.
Safety and Storage
As an alkaline material, water glass requires careful handling to prevent skin and eye irritation. Foundries should provide proper PPE including gloves and eye protection when handling concentrated solutions. Storage conditions significantly impact product stability. Containers must remain tightly sealed to prevent carbonation from atmospheric CO2, which can prematurely harden the material. Optimal storage temperature ranges between 5-30°C. Bulk storage tanks should include agitation systems to maintain homogeneity, as settling may occur over time.
B2B Procurement Guide
When sourcing water glass for casting applications, buyers should specify the required modulus and solids content. Standard foundry-grade solutions typically contain 35-45% solids with a modulus of 2.0-2.5. Quality verification should include viscosity measurements and gelation time tests. For large-volume procurement, consider suppliers with ISO-certified manufacturing facilities and ask for batch analysis certificates. Transportation logistics are crucial - tanker deliveries often prove most economical for high-volume users, while intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) suit medium-scale operations.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：氟金云母、云母片、云母粉、水玻璃、高岭土、滑石粉、碳酸钙、石墨粉、电气石、岩片、膨润土、陶土、海泡石、白炭黑、重晶石粉、沸石、石英砂、透明粉、粘土、蛭石、硅藻土、玻璃鳞片、果壳粉
- 主营：滑石粉、莫来砂、宝珠砂、水玻璃、脱硫石膏、活性白土、重钙粉、轻钙粉、玻璃鳞片、沸石粉、配重砂、石英砂、膨润土粉、硅灰粉、硅藻土、膨润土颗粒、地坪材料、碳酸钙、萤石粉、珍珠岩
- 主营：硫酸铜、二甲苯、均染剂、水玻璃、钼酸铵、液体肥、硫酸锌、乳化剂、锡酸钠、发黑液、叶面肥、混合菌、高碳醇、硫酸钴、络合剂、除油粉、糖醇锌、醋酸铜、氯化钾、壳寡糖、叔丁醇、清洗剂、糖醇硅、海藻硼、醋酸钴、防锈油
- 主营：铝矾土、线圈胶泥、感应电炉炉衬、水玻璃、酸性炉衬材料、中性炉衬材料、捣打料、干振料、加热炉浇灌料、硅质打炉料、中间包可塑料、可塑快速修补料、石英砂、中频炉炉衬料、高岭土、透热炉打结料、橡胶颗粒、氢氧化钙、机制木炭、膨润土、绿泥白泥修补料、火山石板材、氧化钙、凹凸棒土粉、沸石粉沸石颗粒
- 主营：洗衣粉、泡花碱、固化剂、水玻璃、铸造注浆、混合水泥、碱性抗水剂、硅酸盐、硅酸钠、添加剂、增稠剂、粘合剂、玻璃液、堵漏剂、洗涤剂、速凝剂、透明建筑、隧道堵漏、造纸玻璃、耐火材料、地铁隧道、硅酸钾钠、洗涤助剂、透明液体、矿用注浆应
- 主营：火山石、电气石、金刚砂、铸造用粘土、水族鱼缸过滤、水泥油漆调色剂、麦饭石、火山岩、鹅卵石、石英砂、埋香沙子、宠物垫料、彩色石子、沸石颗粒、五彩石子、粉色沙子、耐火材料、膨润土球、配重铁砂、沙画彩砂、凹凸棒土、白色小石头、海沙圆粒砂、暖贴用蛭石、研磨抛光果壳
- 主营：硅酸钠、硅酸钾、硅酸锂、水玻璃、注浆用水玻璃、泡花碱、混凝土固化剂、地坪抛光液、锂基固化剂
- 主营：除臭箱火山岩填料、除臭箱松树皮填料、除臭箱竹炭填料、水玻璃、除臭箱陶粒填料、悬浮球填料、蜂窝斜管填料、火山石、火山岩、松树皮、竹炭、陶粒、石英砂、活性炭、鹅卵石、斜管填料、纤维球滤料、彗星纤维滤料、多面空心球
- 主营：稀释剂、虫胶片、脱漆剂、水玻璃、蒙脱石、脱霉剂、漂白剂、石灰氮、粘合剂、除锈剂、清洗剂、活性染料、二氯丙烷、二氯甲烷、土壤杀菌、氟硅酸钠、环保溶剂、酚醛树脂、硝酸铁、氯化钡、硫酸氢钠、甲酸、三氯化铝、二氯乙烷、二氯异氰尿酸钠、固体次氯酸钠
- 主营：蛋白胨、牛骨蛋白胨、福美钠、水玻璃、强氯精、单乙醇胺、三乙醇胺、氯化铜、防辐射硫酸钡
- 主营：普通石英砂、金刚砂、鹅卵石、工业矿物原料、重钙粉、云母、玻璃珠
- 主营：金刚砂、金刚砂耐磨地坪材料、石英砂、水洗石、石英粉、鹅卵石、重钙粉、白云石、雪花白、珊瑚石、硫酸钡、轻钙粉、白沙子、重晶石、火山石、膨润土、珊瑚骨、麦饭石、风景石、铁砂、玻璃砂、高岭土、蛭石、彩砂
- 主营：高岭土、萤石、蛭石、水处理石英砂、镁球、石英砂、彩砂、岩片、火山岩、玻璃、沸石、硫酸钡、电气石、金刚砂、石膏粉、卵石、氧化铁、陶瓷球、立德粉、硅藻土、贝壳粉、粉煤灰、玉石粉、活性炭、珍珠岩、膨润土
- 主营：络合剂、甜味剂、硅酸钠、蒸馏水、一水柠檬酸、锚固剂、甲酸钙、冰醋酸、化学试剂、洗涤助剂、腐殖酸钠、养殖肥料、次氯酸钠、硫代硫酸钠、氨基酸原粉、磷酸二氢钾、食用石膏粉、食用葡萄糖、木材防腐剂、混凝土速凝剂、乙二胺四乙酸、食品添加增稠剂
- 主营：萤石矿石、萤石粉、石英砂、水处理矿粉、水处理铁粉、高纯石英砂、酸洗石英砂、石膏粉、脱硫石膏粉、蓝晶石粉、电气石粉、石英坩埚、四氧化三铁、还原铁粉、一次还原铁粉、二次还原铁粉、磁粉、雾化铁粉、硅灰石粉、木质纤维、锆英砂、天然石膏粉、透辉石粉、雾化配重铁粉、纳米微米铁粉末