deadrush
Harmless
Posts: 21
Registered: 3-3-2014
Location: Worcester MA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fungible
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Sodium silicate synthesis from Cab-O-Sil? Or pure small mesh silica?
I tried both and honestly I didn't get the best results. I've made gallons of sodium silicate from the kittie litter silica gel with the blue mixed
in. I was anticipating superior results. If it matters I use a 2:3:5 ratio, naoh, sio2, h2o.
As an aside....
So I've had good results by starting with a solventless reaction between the silica gel powder and naoh when mixed vigorously. I'll even heat the mix.
It's quite exothermic even prior to h2o. This, I've found, results in less water required, less time heating and a more viscous, concentrated product.
HOWEVER, when I tried this same technique with the other 2 silica sources, the results weren't great.
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Rainwater
National Hazard
Posts: 925
Registered: 22-12-2021
Member Is Offline
Mood: Loving every second
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I like to use oil sweeping compound, and got the same results. After trying more hydroxide, everything started going into solution.
A little reading shows that cat litter is designed to be hydrophilic and the sweeping compound hydrophobic. I credited that to the slow reaction.
"You can't do that" - challenge accepted
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