Sodium Silicate Market

Market Overview

The global sodium silicate market size was valued at USD 7.42 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 10.29 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period (2022–2030).

Sodium silicate is a colorless mixture of sodium and silica oxides and is utilized to produce soaps, detergents, and silica gel. In addition, it is used as a wall coating, concrete, fire retardant, and sealer. Also utilized in the textile and pharmaceutical industries is sodium silicate. In liquid form, neutral sodium silicate suits pharmaceutical and toiletry products. The expansion of the sodium silicate market can be due to the increasing demand for detergents and soaps.

Certain sodium silicates are applied to concrete floors for hardening, creating dust-free concrete floors, and shielding previous building materials from the effects of moisture. Additionally, it is utilized in the foundry and welding electrode sectors. In ceramic industries, sodium silicate is utilized as a deflocculant in the production of casting slips to prevent the settling of solid particles. In refractory cement and mortar production, sodium silicate is utilized in refractory industries as an air-setting adhesive. In vitreous enamel industries, it is used to clean the metal before enameling, called pickling.

Market Dynamics

Growing Demand in Detergents and Soaps, Rubber, and Tyre Industries to Boost Market Progress

Sodium silicate is used for various related tasks, including washing clothes, deinking paper, washing dishes and other items, cleaning metal, washing locomotives, and washing textile processing equipment. Features such as low interfacial tension against dirt and strong suspending and emulsifying power are exhibited by sodium silicate. It can buffer, neutralize, and saponify, all of which are necessary for a detergent and a soap to function. These applications of different types of sodium silicate in the detergent and soap sector serve as a primary element driving the expansion of the market. Abrasion activities are another common application for sodium silicates. As a result, amorphous sodium silicates are frequently utilized as additives in rubber, which is then used in the production of tires. This helps the rubber better withstand abrasion and wear. These applications in the rubber and tire industries are also a driving force behind the market expansion.

Growing Demand in Pulp and Paper Sector to Favor Market Growth

Sodium silicate provides recycling services like deinking, coating, size, and bleaching. In the process of bleaching cellulose using hydrogen peroxide, sodium silicates serve the purpose of a stabilizer. It also improves the quality of soft and hardwood pulp used to create new paper and helps with repulp and deinking operations performed on waste and recycled paper. During the alkaline cook process, which is used to suspend non-fibrous components in preparation for the deinking of paper, sodium silicates prevent the unneeded breakdown of fiber stock. The demand for sodium silicate is rising along with the number of paper recycling businesses constantly growing.

Market Restraining Factors

Dangerous Side Effects to Restrict Market Growth

People should avoid coming into contact with sodium silicate as much as possible. It might irritate the skin when it comes into close contact with the body's surface. It can be fatal if exposed for a prolonged period because it causes severe and irreversible eye damage. In addition, it irritates the respiratory tract, making it uncomfortable in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract. Skin irritation may develop from symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and burns to the lips. These product features will prevent the market from growing to its full potential.

Key Market Opportunities

Expanding Construction Sector to Spur Market Opportunities

Sodium silicate is occasionally used as a binder in assembling insulation products. The procedure might be utilized for the soil's consolidation. The addition of sodium silicate, along with the other reactive chemicals, aids in the process of induced gel formation, which helps to consolidate the porous soil structures. Cement is a standard product used in the building and construction business. Cement made from sodium silicate is put to use in a wide variety of contexts, including but not limited to refractories, acid-proof buildings, chimneys, furnaces, spark plugs, coke ovens, molds, and cores. These applications offer a significant opportunity to develop the sodium silicate industry because they continuously identify new uses for sodium silicate in various construction projects.

Regional Analysis

The global market for sodium silicate is segmented into four regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Asia-Pacific was the region that made the most significant contribution growing at a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period. The market for sodium silicate in Asia and the Pacific is studied, including China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and the other countries in the region. China has a far larger market share than any other country, with Japan coming in second. The market share that South Korea obtains is the lowest of any other country. Several industries show increased growth, including automobiles, construction, textiles, agriculture, refractories, paints, and coatings.

The markets for sodium silicate in North America are broken out as follows: The United States, Canada, and Mexico. The U.S. is the most crucial country, followed by Canada's market share. Mexico holds the smallest of all the countries linked to the increased use of sodium silicate in the building industry and the detergent and catalyst industries, tube winding, and paper and pulp manufacturing in the region. The U.S. is home to several giant corporations engaged in sodium silicate production, contributing to the region's robust consumer market. In addition, the growth of the construction and paper and pulp industries in Mexico is another factor that contributes to the expansion of the sodium silicate market in North America.

Segmental Analysis

The global sodium silicate market is categorized by form, type, grade, application, and end-user.

On the Basis of Form

Based on form, the market is divided into crystalline and anhydrous categories.

The crystalline sodium silicates segment contributed the most to the market, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period. The melting points of crystalline sodium silicates are distinct, and it relies on the crystallization of water's composition. The Penta- or nonahydrate form of sodium metasilicate is created with the water of crystallization. Crystalline sodium silicates are predominantly sodium metasilicates. They are utilized in fireproofing, washing, dairy, metal, and floor cleaning.

Additionally, they are utilized in paper deinking, insecticides, fungicides, cleaning carbonated beverage bottles, and antimicrobial substances. An anhydrous solid dissolves relatively slowly at room temperature, which is miscible with water indefinitely. The density and viscosity of silicate solutions and the silica metal-oxide ratio establish the distinctive composition of silicate solutions.

On the Basis of Type

Based on type, the global sodium silicate market is divided into liquid and solid.

The liquid segment contributed the most to the market, growing at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period. Liquid sodium silicate is produced by dissolving silicate solids in water or hydrothermal by reacting caustic lye and fine crystalline silica in autoclaves under intense pressure. Liquid sodium silicate is utilized in various industrial and commercial applications, including detergent/cleaning compounds, pulp and paper, paper board, building products/construction, textiles, ceramics, petroleum processing, and metals. This application of liquid sodium silicates promotes market growth. Amorphous and crystalline solid sodium silicates are available. Also, it is impractical to determine the boiling point of solid anhydrous silicates since they are glasses with high melting temperatures.

On the Basis of Grade

Based on grade, the global sodium silicate market is divided into neutral and alkaline.

The alkaline sector is the most dominant segment and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period. Alkaline sodium silicate is liquid and is a clear-to-opaque and odorless liquid. Normal pressure and temperature are non-reactive. It is used in adhesives, paper, deinking, detergents/soaps, catalysts, textiles, drilling fluids, mineral processing, refractory cement, and zeolites. It makes silicate gel, precipitated silica, and drilling mud. Neutral sodium silicate is water gas and primarily an aqueous solution and white solid used to treat wastewater. In the treatment plant, it deflocculates or coagulates. Negatively charged water particles react with sodium silicate, cleaning the water.

On the Basis of Application

Based on application, the global sodium silicate market is divided into paints, adhesives, refractories, tube windowing, detergents, and catalysts.

The detergents sector contributed the most and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period. In detergent operations, both dry granular and liquid sodium silicates are utilized. This can include cleaning metal, washing dishes, bottles, floors, deinking paper, railways, etc. Sodium silicates are used in bleaches, wetting agents, and wool scouring, boiling and finishing. Sodium silicate is combined with various chemicals and is therefore utilized in catalytic materials. The most extensively used silica-alumina catalyst is derived from sodium silicate and other chemical reactions. In manufacturing spiral, convolute wound tubes, and cores, sodium silicate is employed.

On the Basis of End-User

Based on end-user, the global sodium silicate market is divided into pulp and paper, construction, and automotive applications.

The construction industry dominates the market, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% during the forecast period. In cementitious materials, sodium silicate has already found many applications. It is utilized in alkali-activated cement as an alkali-activator and as a setting accelerator in concrete and sprayed as silicate mineral paint to enhance waterproofing and improve durability.

Recent Developments

• April 2022- Siemens creates a soda production line simulator for the CIECH Group; the goal is to increase the efficiency of the production process.
• March 2022- the commissioning of a new furnace for the production of silicates started at Żary, an investment worth PLN 80 million.
• June 2022- Evonik invests US$220 million in partnership with the U.S. Government to build a new lipid production facility for mRNA-based therapies in the U.S.
• May 2022- European Commission Approves KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Chemotherapy as Neoadjuvant Treatment, Then Continued as Adjuvant Monotherapy After Surgery for Locally Advanced or Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer at High Risk of Recurrence.