Silmaco NV - Industrieweg 90 - B-3620 Lanaken - België

Tel. +32(0)89/730.222 - Fax +32(0)89/722.724 - Web = http://www.silmaco.com

We are happy to give you detailed information on our products and their applications. Please ask for our technical brochure or call us for an appointment.

Mr. W.M.J. Machiels
Managing Director

Sodium silicate, a quasi infinite product...

Sodium silicate is a chemical compound of silicon dioxide (SiO₂ out of pure silver sand), disodium oxide (Na₂O) and water. The liquid sodium silicates can be manufactured in two ways:

the hydrothermal process produces a sodium silicate with a mole ratio smaller than 2,5;
the furnace process (fusion at more than 1000°C) leads up to a vitreous sodium silicate, which will afterwards be dissolved in water. This mostly concerns sodium silicates with a mole ratio higher than 2,5 (typically ± 3,4).

... with multiple applications

The liquid product is used in order to manufacture granulated sodium metasilicates.

It is very interesting to look at the combination of properties which sodium silicates offer. By allowing the components' proportion to vary, we are able to adapt silicates exactly to your demands. Moreover, sodium silicates are user-friendly products as they do not make special demands with regard to storage and protective means. They are ecologically safe: they do not cause any considerable environmental nuisance, and they actually recycle themselves to the original raw materials. Furthermore, these raw materials have almost unlimited availability.

Because of its unique properties, sodium silicate is found in a huge area of applications. Sodium silicate is used to manufacture detergents, catalysts, TiO₂ , absorbing agents, (fire resisting and acid-proof) cements, moulds; it is also used in the water purification field, boarding, de-inking of paper, purification of metal surfaces, ... In addition, because of its interesting binding properties, sodium silicate is used as an aid in processing.

A manufacturer with an eye for product and service

SILMACO (Silicates Manufacturing Company) was established in 1987 with a desire to do it better, as good products are entitled to a good service. Lanaken became the company seat for 2 reasons: because of the village's close availability of very pure silver sand and as it is the ideal exit base for the European market.

Thanks to constant investments in modern technologies, we are now able to offer the complete range of liquid sodium silicates and granulated sodium metasilicates.

The production's concept gives absolute priority to the products' final quality; therefore, they distinguish themselves because of the high degree of purity and quality. However, our large flexibility is at least as important thanks to which we are able to meet our clients' wishes rapidly and accurately. With all these advantages, SILMACO has become an important player on the European sodium silicates market in less than ten years.

A new office (1998), together with an extensive application laboratory, must result in an even more tailored service.

Why choose SILMACO?

Pure sodium silicates with a very constant composition
Wide range of products
Deliveries exactly according to your wishes (quantity, packing, time)
Possibility to manufacture tailored products
Very flexible and customer-directed partner
Very competitive in price
An extensive application laboratory for advice and assistance in developing or optimising your applications

Our most important goal: a satisfied customer

From our desire to do better, we are aiming to supply our customers with products which meet their expectations in the most efficient way. Silmaco's entire structure is based on this, which our ISO 9001:2000-certificate, issued by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, confirms. However, to us, the most important certificate is your next order. This is why we continue to do our best in order to enhance our products' quality and our service.

Range of products and packings

Liquid sodium silicates

We have a very large range of liquid sodium silicates; schedules 1 and 2 mention some of the most typical qualities. Apart from these standard products, we are perfectly able to create a sodium silicate which meets your exact demands.

Schedule 3 shows the usual limits for liquid sodium silicates. We are happy to give advice when choosing the most suitable sodium silicate for your application.

Schedule 1. Some standard neutral sodium silicates (*)

density °Baumé	Mole ratio	concentration %
31-33	3,40	29,50
35-37	3,40	33,50
37-38	3,40	35,00
37-40	3,40	36,00
38-40	3,40	36,50
40-42	3,40	38,50
42-43	3,25	39,50

Schedule 2. Some standard alkaline sodium silicates (*)

density °Baumé	Mole ratio	concentration %
42-44	2,00	37,50
44-46	2,00	39,50
48-49	2,27	43,75
50-52	1,70	45,00
50-52	2,00	45,50
51-53	2,30	46,40
52-54	2,00	47,50
53-55	2,00	48,50
54-56	2,00	49,50
56-58	2,00	51,50
58-60	2,00	53,50

Schedule 3. Usual limits for liquid sodium silicates

	concentration	Mole ratio	density °Baumé	density kg/l
alkaline silicates	35-55 %	1,6-2,5	40-60	1,38-1,70
neutral silicates	25-40 %	2,5-3,5	30-42	1,26-1,41

Liquid sodium silicates are available in:

bulk tankers (10 up to 30 tons)
metal 200-litre barrels
plastic 200-litre barrels
multiboxes of 1.000 litres

Granulated sodium metasilicates

We offer all sodium metasilicates (mole ratio 1,0). Its composition depends on the type of sodium metasilicate.

Schedule 4. Some standard sodium metasilicates (*)

sodium metasilicate	concentration	mole ratio	Bulk density	grain size
anhydrous	± 98 %	± 0,95	± 1,15 kg/l	varia
5aq	± 57 %	± 1,03	± 0,95 kg/l	varia
9aq	± 44 %	± 1,04	± 0,90 kg/l	0,2-1,6 mm

Granulated sodium metasilicates are available in:

bags of 25 kg (manufactured out of LDPE)
bigbags of 1.000 kg (manufactured out of PP)
bulk lorries

(*) The given values are indicative. Please ask for the separate product specification for more detailed and/or actual information.

E-mail: info@silmaco.com

This Page was last changed on 31/01/2003 by David VAN HOVE.