Silicate glue. Features of application. What is silicate glue used for?

IN modern construction Silicate glue, in other words, liquid glass, is used quite actively. In fact, it is a mineral compound, which, in addition to the construction industry, is widely used in the national economy and everyday life for gluing materials of various types. In this article, we will try to talk as fully as possible about what “liquid glass” office glue is and describe the features of its production and use.

How is liquid glass made?

Stationery glue was first made in Germany in 1818 by the chemist and mineralogist von Fuchs. At the moment, this material is produced according to the most different technologies.

The most common ones are:

• Tripods, diatomites, opoka or other types of siliceous raw materials are placed in special alkaline solutions, where they dissolve at normal pressure and relatively low temperatures.
• Compounds containing silicon are treated with concentrated sodium hydroxide. This procedure is performed in a special autoclave.
• Quartz sand and soda are fused to construction work.

Silicate glue (liquid glass) is sold in the form of a ready-to-use solution or in dry form, reminiscent of a powder that must be diluted with water in certain proportions. Each composition is accompanied by instructions that clearly describe how and in what proportions to dilute it:

• In everyday life, of course, it is better to use an already prepared solution.
• Industrial, construction companies Most often this product is ordered in dry form.

Important! The main indicator chemical composition This glue is a silicate module, the value of which indicates the release of silica into solution. In addition, this module describes the ratio of sodium or potassium oxide to silicon oxide contained in silicate adhesive. But keep in mind that the quality of glass is not determined by this indicator.

The glass dries at natural and elevated temperatures. As a rule, manufacturers, in order to speed up this process, finished products dried at 375 degrees. The glue dissolves completely in water, leaving no sediment or particles. If ketones, salt compounds, aldehydes, ammonia, and alcohol-containing substances are added to the solution, a salting-out effect can be observed.

Important! This material is not compatible with organic compounds, the only exception is sugar, alcohol, urea.

Main characteristics of office glue

Solutions of this liquid compound include various high-dimensional forms, the simplest orthosilicates from the category of monomers. Key Features This composition can be called the following.

Polymerization

The level of polymerization of silicate glue does not have a constant value; it constantly changes under the influence of fluctuations in the ratio of silicic acid and alkali. In addition, this indicator depends on the concentration characterizing the main substance.

Viscose

This - the most important indicator quality liquid glass. This value decreases with increasing temperature, precisely at the level at which the material is manufactured. As the concentration of the solution increases, its viscosity increases. The value of this quantity is determined using a special device - a viscometer.

Important! It can also increase if you add highly soluble salt to the glass.

Density

This indicator is measured with an ordinary aerometer. It indicates the real density of the composition as reliably as possible, even if too little glue is submitted for analysis. This value is measured with fluctuations, even the most insignificant, in the ratio of the silicic acid and alkaline components of the glass.

Cooking point

The astringent properties of the glue directly depend on it, that is, the liquefaction temperature, varying from 760 to 870 degrees.

pH value

It is impossible to significantly change this indicator. If you add 10-100 parts of water to the composition, the pH level will change by no more than one unit, that is, it will become equal to 10-12. The glue hardens at temperatures from minus 2 to plus 10 degrees. It returns to its original state when diluted, but its properties remain unchanged.

Important! Store office glue (liquid glass) at negative temperatures should not be used, otherwise crystals may form on its surface. Even after heating they do not disappear.

Application of liquid glass

The largest consumers of this material are construction companies. It is most often used in concrete:

• Despite the fact that it is characterized by a low price, with its help you can significantly improve the quality and performance properties of concrete, and guarantee the solution high level waterproofing.
• The material has high antibacterial properties. Thanks to this, the concrete with which it is mixed never becomes covered with fungus or mold. All modern swimming pools, designs that operate at high humidity, concreted with compositions containing silicate glue.

Important! Glass hardens quite quickly, so it’s better not to take risks and not mix it with concrete mortar before starting work.

When combating building subsidence, liquid glass is pumped directly into the ground under the base of the building. This happens in two ways:

• One-step method. The mixture is formed from liquid glass and a special hardener, then it is supplied directly under the building.
• Sequential method. First the glass is pumped in, only then the hardener.

Other options:

• Impregnation of wood and plaster with liquid glass is very common in construction.
• They dilute silicate paint, which provides excellent protection from corrosion of metal products for 25-30 years.
• Silicate glue is part of modern chipboards. This impregnation makes any wooden product durable and resistant to compression.

Areas of use of silicate glue

Impregnation of concrete and plastered surfaces with a silicate solution guarantees an excellent antiseptic effect. Any coating becomes more resistant to aggressive influences external factors- high humidity and flue gases. Now it’s clear why “liquid glass” glue is so popular in many areas. The use of this composition gives coatings treated with it additional properties:

• High level of hardness.
• Abrasion resistance.
• The ability to plug various cracks and irregularities that appear in plaster or concrete.

Among other things, liquid glass is used in production.

Liquid glass is understood as an alkaline aqueous solution of sodium or potassium silicate. It is often called silicate glue. Unique properties this connection determined it wide application V different areas industry and in everyday life.

Liquid glass was first produced by the German mineralogist and chemist von Fuchs in 1818. Now this material produced using different technologies. The most common are the following:

• Placing diatomites, tripoli, flasks and other types of siliceous raw materials in alkaline solutions, where they dissolve at relatively low temperatures and normal pressure.
• Treatment with sodium hydroxide (in concentrated form) of compounds that contain silicon. This operation is performed in a special autoclave.
• Fusion of soda and quartz.

Silicate glue

Silicate glue is sold either in the form of a dry powdery substance, which must be diluted in certain proportions with water (the specifications of this process are contained in the instructions for liquid glass), or as a ready-to-use solution. For everyday use, it is wiser to take an already prepared composition. But construction and industrial enterprises The described material is often ordered in dry form.

The main indicator of the chemical composition of an adhesive is its silicate module. This value indicates the release of silica into solution. It also describes the ratio of silicon oxide to potassium or sodium oxides, which are contained in silicate glue. It is worth knowing that the quality of glass is not determined by the module indicator.

Solutions of the liquid compound in question include a variety of high-dimensional forms and the simplest orthosilicates of the monomeric type. The amount of polymerization of liquid glass has a variable value. It changes with fluctuations in the ratio of alkali and silicic acid, and also depends on the concentration that characterizes the silicate substance.

Liquid glass

The most important indicator of the quality of silicate glue is viscosity. It becomes smaller with increasing temperature at which the material is manufactured, and increases with increasing concentration of the silicate solution. Also, viscosity becomes higher when highly soluble salts are added to the glass. To know exact value this value can be used using special devices– viscometers.

They have different designs, but they use one technique in their work - measuring the speed at which a ball made of steel falls in a liquid compound. To measure the density of silicate glue, a conventional aerometer is used. It is able to indicate the real density of the compound as reliably as possible, even when a small portion of the solution is analyzed. This value changes with fluctuations (including slight ones) in the ratio of the alkaline and silicic acid components of the glass.

The active use of liquid glass in construction and other industries is determined, as mentioned, by the special characteristics of this material. Its high astringent properties depend on the cooking point (in other words, the liquefaction temperature), which varies between 760–870 °C. Silicate glue is characterized by a pH value of 11–13 units. At the same time, it is often called neutral, which is incorrect.

Application in construction

It is impossible to change the pH of the solution by a significant amount. If you add 10 to 100 parts of water to it, the pH will change by a maximum of one unit and become equal to 10–12. The described glue hardens when different temperatures– from -2 to +10°. When diluted, it returns to its original state without losing its properties. True, it is undesirable to store glue at subzero temperatures due to the risk of crystals appearing on its surface. After heating, they cannot be eliminated.

Drying of glass is carried out at elevated and natural temperatures. To speed up the process, manufacturers usually dry the finished product at a temperature of about 375 °C. Silicate glue dissolves in water without residue. If salt compounds, ketones, alcohol-containing substances, ammonia or aldehydes are added to its solution, a so-called “salting out effect” is observed. The described glass is incompatible with organic compounds, with the exception of urea, alcohol and sugar.

The use of “miracle glue” in modern construction

The main consumers of the described material are considered to be enterprises in the construction industry. The use of liquid glass in concrete is widespread. Silicate glue is characterized by a relatively low cost. And at the same time it significantly improves performance properties concrete mortar, guaranteeing the latter excellent waterproofing. In addition, liquid glass has high antibacterial capabilities.

Due to this, mold never appears on the concrete into which it is added, and fungus does not appear. All pools these days, as well as structures operating at constant high humidity, are concreted with compounds containing the “miracle glue” we are considering. It is worth taking into account that liquid glass hardens quite quickly. And in some cases it cannot be mixed with concrete before starting work. The builders found a way out of this situation.

They use a “cunning” method, which involves treating an already erected concrete structure with a solution of water and liquid glass (the components of this mixture are taken in equal quantities). Silicate solutions are well suited for combating soil subsidence under erected buildings and structures. IN in this case It is recommended to use liquid glass, the use of which does not require any large-scale work.

Surface treatment with liquid glass

When combating subsidence, silicate glue is pumped into the ground under construction according to one of two schemes:

• One-step method - a mixture of a special hardener and liquid glass is formed, which is supplied under the building.
• Sequential technique - glass is pumped in first, then the hardening compound.

Impregnation of plaster and wood with liquid silicate solutions is common (we will discuss this below). Silicate glue is also added to zinc silicate paint, which protects metal products from corrosion for 25–30 years! Liquid glass is also included in modern particle boards. Their impregnation with “miracle glue” makes any wood products durable and very resistant to compression.

About the areas of use of liquid glass

Impregnation of plastered and concrete surfaces silicate solution guarantees an excellent antiseptic effect. Coatings become resistant to aggressive external factors, flue gases, high humidity and improve their other performance characteristics. They gain:

• abrasion resistance;
• high hardness;
• the ability to “lock” various irregularities and pores that form in coatings (such pores destroy a layer of concrete or plaster).

Wood impregnation ( construction products made of wood), concrete and plastered surfaces can be different. The most commonly used method is in which the impregnating composition is applied to the coating to be strengthened with a spray gun or conventional paint brush repeatedly. This technique is called deep surface treatment. There is also a more “gentle” way to protect plaster, concrete and wood. It involves processing the coating only once.

Liquid glass, among other things, is used in the production of:

• hydro- and fireproof coloring compositions for wood products;
• putties for cast iron pipes used in water supply networks;
• acid-resistant cement mixtures;
• solutions for cleaning machine oils;
• electrodes for welding;
• adhesives for joining cellulose products.

And in everyday life, silicate solutions have long been used by gardeners to treat tree trunks. Now liquid glass is being replaced by more modern compositions for caring for plants. At the same time, many amateur gardeners prefer inexpensive and time-tested silicate glue.

Silicate glue is used in various areas. It is difficult to do without it in construction; the material is useful for waterproofing. In addition, it is used in the production of acid-resistant, heat-resistant and water-resistant concrete.

The use of silicate adhesive as an addition to building materials can increase their strength, weather resistance, durability and fire resistance. Silicate glue (potassium is used to impregnate fabrics and wooden products, which allows them to be given greater density and fire resistance.

The product can be used as protection for wounds or pruning trees. It is used to prime brick, wood, concrete, plastered surfaces, as well as containers. Silicate glue is useful for gluing products made of paper, wood, glass, cardboard, leather, fabric and porcelain. In addition, you can glue it to any surface of linoleum and facing tiles.

Silicate glue can be used both as an independent product and in combination with various materials. It can be used as a cleaning and detergent. The adhesive composition is used in the paper, textile, chemical, fat and soap industries. It is an excellent environmentally friendly antiseptic and prevents the formation of fungi, rot and mold.

Before use, the assembly adhesive should be mixed; it is recommended to prepare a brush, roller and brush for work. Before application, the surface must be cleaned of various contaminants, wooden materials It's better to clean it with sandpaper. During operation, silicate glue is applied to the surfaces to be joined, which are then pressed against each other.

When using a primer for surface treatment, liquid glass is mixed in the same ratio. To create waterproofing concrete wells their walls are treated with silicate glue and then covered with a solution made from liquid glass, sand and cement (in equal proportions).

To make waterproof plaster, mix sand and cement (2.5 to 1) with a 15 percent solution of silicate glue. The same composition is used for repairing and laying the outer parts of furnaces, chimneys and fireplaces.

For waterproofing basements, ceilings, floors, walls, pool installations, take silicate glue and combine it with 10 parts of concrete mortar.

As ordinary work by pasting adhesive material take at the rate of 200 - 400 grams per 1 square meter.

To clean dishes, frying pans, pots and other items, you need to prepare a solution of liquid glass with water in a ratio of 1 to 25. After this, the dishes should be boiled in this composition.

Silicate glue is also used for repairing aquariums and gluing glass; it is used to impregnate limestone Construction Materials, concrete, wood and cement products, which increases their strength. Glue is used to remove grease and oil stains from clothes.

Name liquid glass is more often used as silicate glue. This name is more common among consumers. Wikipedia gives us this designation - an aqueous alkaline solution of sodium silicates Na 2 O(SiO 2) n and (or) potassium K 2 O(SiO 2) n.

Despite the growing popularity of primers, putties, water-repellent and fire-resistant mixtures, liquid glass today occupies a significant market share.

In fact, the term “liquid glass” refers to silicate glue, the adhesive and waterproof characteristics of which contribute to the popularity of the material.

Composition, description and properties of “liquid glass” in construction

For general concept you need to know that liquid glass was invented in 1818. This was done by the German mineralogist Jan Nepomuk von Fuchs. The chemical process included silicic acid and various alkalis. The classic composition of liquid glass, in principle, has remained unchanged thanks to silica-containing materials and sodium hydroxide solution.

An aqueous mixture of sodium silicate is capable of dissolving in water, forming a thick liquid; with different dosages, the physical, mechanical and operational characteristics of mortars also vary. This “follows” the expansion of the scope of application of liquid glass.

It is important to remember that the solution prepared with your own hands sets and hardens very quickly, so work with mortars with liquid glass is recommended for specialists with extensive experience. But the end result of the finish - its strength and durability - is worth the effort.

Methods of application and algorithms for performing construction work with liquid glass

The scope of application of liquid glass is almost unlimited, but still the main consumer is the construction industry - such a component is indispensable primarily for waterproofing work.

How, where, when and in what quantity is liquid glass (silicate glue) used in construction, and the main advantages:

• , construction of bridge structures: wherever concrete comes into contact with water - mixed soluble glass with water in a ratio of 0.4/1 is the best primer material. But, subsequent processing (painting/finishing) is not carried out, since liquid glass forms a film on the surface;
• Initially, soluble glass is added to the cement solution in a ratio of 8/1, and the concrete will be resistant to moisture;
• Refractory cement for laying stoves and fireplaces. Composition: cement with sand in a ratio of 1/3, add about 20% of the total mass of liquid glass, then add water;
• Production finishing materials in industrial conditions - fire-resistant putties, water repellents, various coloring and adhesive compositions;
• Liquid glass is one of the the best antiseptics, introducing it into concrete makes the material immune to the effects of fungi and various microorganisms;
• Production of putties - processing of seams and joints of sewer and plumbing systems;
• Adding liquid glass to paints makes paintwork durable, resistant to all types of weather conditions.

Important:

When working with liquid glass, you must observe normal rules safety precautions, the material is environmentally friendly, but to work with it you must wear gloves and avoid direct contact with skin.

Liquid glass - not only as part of building mixtures

Silication is the most effective and proven method of soil strengthening, which is widely used construction companies. Foundation settlement is a common phenomenon, and in cases of uneven ground subsidence, injection strengthens and hardens sands and quicksand. For gardening, treating tree cuts with liquid glass eliminates plant diseases, being an ideal antiseptic and a monolithic protective crust on the cut.

What else is silicate glue (liquid glass) used for?

1. Glass gluing.
2. Solving household and household details:

• descaling and cleaning dishes,
• protection of metal from corrosion,
• getting rid of stains on clothes.

Liquid glass has been and will be in demand and the right material for a wide range of work.

Liquid glass in different areas of life

Below you can see photos of manufactured tabletops made of liquid glass.

Recently, liquid glass has been used for flooring. It looks very beautiful and unique. A few photo ideas on how to make a floor from silicate glue.

As you can see, liquid glass is used on the floor, for decorating tables, countertops and much more. Try it, experiment.

Silicate glue

Silicate glue, more often called liquid glass, is a mineral compound widely used in everyday life and in the national economy for joining (gluing) various materials. The viscous fluid substance has been known to mankind for almost 2 hundred years, and all this time it has been successfully used for many purposes.

History of liquid glass

Liquid glass was first produced in Germany by the chemist Jan Nepomuk von Fuchs in 1818. The technology for its production turned out to be quite simple, and the raw materials - natural or artificial - were cheap and widespread.

Liquid glass is an aqueous alkaline solution of sodium polysilicates Na2O(SiO2)n, potassium K2O(SiO2)n or lithium polysilicates Li2O(SiO2)n. A necessary component of liquid glass, from which the glue itself gets its name, is silicates - substances that contain silica SiO2. Deposits of natural silicates are available everywhere, production methods are not complicated, and a wide range of applications makes silicate glue one of the most accessible.

Methods of obtaining

There are several technologies for producing liquid glass. It is possible to fire (fusion) a mixture of quartz sand and baking soda in a special container. Raw materials containing silica are also exposed to saturated solutions of sodium, potassium or lithium hydroxide. Wherein a necessary condition is to maintain the boiling point of a particular alkali solution.

The adhesive ability of liquid glass is associated with the physical property of silicates - good adhesion to almost any surface. Adhesion is based on physics solid. On outer surface In solid objects, the molecules are bound weaker than inside. When silicate glue is applied to such surfaces, molecular attraction occurs between them. The liquid in the adhesive is adsorbed on the surfaces being joined, resulting in an increase in the viscosity and density of the adhesive joint. The equilibrium of the surface particles shifts, the silicic acid chains are modified, the process of polycondensation occurs and a stable adhesive seam is formed.

Glue in industry and everyday life

Silicate adhesive is used in many industries National economy. But one of the simplest and most common areas for a long time It was used as a connector for paper. Since childhood, the familiar liquid transparent glue in plastic bottles is nothing more than a stationery version of silicate glue. The correct consistency and careful application of liquid glass made it possible to glue different types of paper and cardboard. However, it has been found that over time the glue line turns yellow and the joint itself becomes brittle. Therefore, although silicate glue is now used in office work, its use is more limited than before.

One of the largest areas of application of liquid glass is construction. A mixture of sodium silicate with inorganic waste from various industries produces a highly durable inexpensive material, which is used in the construction of basic building structures. Slag from ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, as well as unnecessary products of activity, are used as waste. processing plants. Ash from state district power stations and thermal power plants and soil unsuitable for agriculture are also used. An undeniable advantage The concrete produced in this way is that its production requires much less energy, which brings clear economic benefits. Sodium silicate is also used for the production of building panels and light ceramics.

A little about the properties

Foamed liquid glass conducts heat very poorly. This quality is actively used to produce special heat-saving materials. Heat insulators based on sodium silicates are used both in industrial devices and in piece heat-insulating products. Reeds, cotton stalks, and bench press are used as fillers for the silicate solution. sugar cane, as well as wood shavings and sawdust. It can also be iron-chrome slag and quartz sand. Silicate thermal insulation can withstand temperature loads up to 1300°C and multiple changes in heating and cooling.

Silicate glue is used in metallurgy in the manufacture of spraying for welding electrodes, and also as a binding material in the production of casting molds and cores. Liquid glass is used in mechanical engineering - for delicate joining of parts, in the production of pulp, paper and textiles. Sodium silicate is an essential component of many processes in the iron and steel industry, foundry and chemical industry.

The main attention here is paid to the strength properties of silicate glue. In chemical production, when working with aggressive products, liquid glass is an indispensable acid-resistant coating. Silicate glue is also included in washing powder. Sodium silicate added to cellulose adds shine and extra hardness to paper and fabric.

Silicate glue plays an important role in ensuring fire safety. In the construction of many structures, not only non-flammable materials like stone, concrete and metal, but also extremely fire hazardous elements like wood, plastic and synthetics. To guarantee the safety of housing and workplaces, they are coated with a special fire-retardant substance based on liquid glass. In addition, fire-resistant plasters and pastes have waterproof and anti-corrosion properties.

Often silicate glue is used in large and small repair work. Thus, liquid glass is part of acid-resistant, resistant to high blood pressure and the heat of the limestone and cement-sand mortars. It is also the main component of moisture-resistant sealing putties and silicate facade paints. Silicate adhesive is used to protect the foundations of buildings from exposure to groundwater, used for waterproofing swimming pools, protecting floors, walls and basement floors from moisture. Liquid glass in interaction with ferrochrome slag and ash extends the service life of dirt roads.

Let's sum it up

Silicate glue is an unusual compound used in various areas of production. Created for gluing paper and cardboard, it later began to be used as part of various adhesive mixtures and putties. Compositions containing silicate glue are resistant to high temperature, are heat insulators and are not susceptible to organic pests (rot, mold, insects)

The disadvantages of liquid glass include its highly alkaline reaction, which can cause burns if handled carelessly. Nevertheless, beneficial features silicate glue ensure its demand in modern production.