Why can sodium methyl silicate achieve high-efficiency waterproof and multifunctional properties?
1. The mystery of silicon-oxygen structure
The magic of sodium methyl silicate is primarily due to the unique silicon-oxygen structure of its active ingredients. The silicon-oxygen bond has extremely strong bond energy, and this stable chemical bond gives the product inherent excellent performance. From a molecular level, the methyl group in the sodium methyl silicate molecule is non-polar. When the material is treated with the waterproofing agent, these non-polar groups will be arranged on the surface of the material according to the principle of surface energy minimization, forming a low surface energy interface, which can effectively resist the invasion of water, just like putting on a layer of solid waterproof armor for the material. Whether facing the severe weather of heavy rain or the humid environment with high humidity for a long time, the material treated with sodium methyl silicate can isolate the moisture from the outside and keep itself dry and stable.
In terms of weather resistance, the stability of the silicon-oxygen structure enables it to adapt to various complex and changeable climatic conditions. Compared with ordinary waterproof materials, the performance fluctuation of the treated material containing sodium methyl silicate in ultraviolet radiation testing is very small. Whether it is the strong sunlight in the hot summer, the low temperature in the cold winter, or the wind and rain all year round, it can always maintain stable performance and will not fail or deteriorate due to changes in the external environment. This excellent weather resistance enables the treated materials to maintain good waterproof effects during long-term use, greatly extending the service life of the materials. During the research and development and production process, sodium methyl silicate is tested in cycles by simulating various extreme climate environments to ensure that the product can exert stable weather resistance under different climatic conditions.
Heat resistance and oxidation resistance are also important advantages of sodium methyl silicate. In a high temperature environment, the molecular structure of ordinary waterproof materials will soften and deform, while sodium methyl silicate can maintain structural stability at high temperatures and continue to play a waterproof role due to its heat resistance. In the simulated high temperature test in the aerospace field, the insulation material treated with sodium methyl silicate worked for a long time in a high temperature environment without obvious attenuation of waterproof performance. Its good antioxidant properties are due to the barrier effect of the silicon-oxygen structure on oxygen molecules. In the accelerated oxidation experiment, the oxidation degree of the material is much lower than that of ordinary materials, which effectively avoids the performance degradation caused by oxidation and further ensures the long-term effectiveness of the product. Tongxiang Hengli Chemical Co., Ltd. also adds special antioxidant additives to further improve the stability of sodium methyl silicate in a high-oxygen environment. The combination of this series of properties makes sodium methyl silicate unique among many chemical products and the preferred waterproofing agent in many industries.
2. The formation mechanism and unique advantages of waterproof film
When the material is treated with sodium methyl silicate waterproofing agent, a series of exquisite chemical changes will occur. After contacting with carbon dioxide in the air and fully reacting and drying, a layer of organic silicone resin waterproof film with a mesh or body structure will be formed on the surface of the material. This process involves complex chemical reactions: sodium methyl silicate first reacts with carbon dioxide and water in the air to generate methyl silicic acid, and then methyl silicic acid undergoes a polycondensation reaction during the evaporation of water to form an organic silicone resin with a three-dimensional network structure. At the microscopic level, electron microscope observation shows that the silicon-oxygen bonds in this resin structure are cross-linked, like a tight net, which can penetrate into the material, wrap every tiny particle in the composition material, completely separate the water from the material, form an indestructible waterproof barrier, and show a strong waterproof effect.
The most groundbreaking feature of this waterproof membrane is that it has excellent air permeability while achieving high-efficiency waterproofing, and does not hinder the drainage performance of the material. Compared with traditional waterproof materials, the waterproof membrane of the material treated with sodium methyl silicate has a higher porosity and a uniform pore size distribution, which can allow water vapor to be discharged smoothly in the form of molecular diffusion. In practical applications, many materials need to be able to discharge excess water and moisture in time while maintaining waterproofness to prevent mold, rot and other problems caused by moisture accumulation. For example, in the treatment of basement walls, after using sodium methyl silicate, the wall humidity is always kept in a safe range, and the mold growth rate is greatly reduced, which not only ensures the waterproof effect, but also maintains the normal use performance of the material. Tongxiang Hengli Chemical Co., Ltd. formed a research and development team composed of polymer chemistry experts and material engineers during the product development process. By adjusting the reaction conditions and the ratio of additives, after many experiments, and using molecular dynamics simulation technology, the microstructure of the waterproof membrane was precisely controlled, and finally the performance of sodium methyl silicate reached a perfect balance between air permeability and waterproofness.
Sodium methyl silicate also has the function of micro-expansion and increased density. During the drying and curing process of the material, sodium methyl silicate reacts with cement hydration products to generate expansive crystals. These crystals grow inside the material, causing the material to expand slightly, filling the tiny pores and cracks inside the material, thereby increasing the density of the material. In the construction of the road base, after the addition of sodium methyl silicate, the porosity of the base material is significantly reduced, and the water permeability coefficient is greatly reduced. This increase in density not only further enhances the waterproof performance of the material, but also improves the strength and durability of the material.
3. Broad prospects for cross-field applications
With these excellent properties, sodium methyl silicate has broad application prospects in many fields. In the field of construction, it can be used for waterproofing the exterior walls, roofs, basements and other parts of buildings, effectively preventing rainwater leakage and protecting the building structure. Taking a high-rise residential building as an example, after using sodium methyl silicate for waterproofing the exterior walls, after years of heavy rain, there was no leakage on the wall, and the complaint rate of residents dropped significantly. In the renovation of old residential areas, sodium methyl silicate was used to waterproof the roof, which significantly extended the service life of the roof.
In water conservancy projects, it can waterproof dams, canals and other facilities and extend the service life of water conservancy facilities. In some channel projects of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the application of sodium methyl silicate has greatly improved the anti-freeze and thaw performance of the channel. In low temperature environments, after multiple freeze-thaw cycles, the channel structure remains good.
In road and bridge construction, it can be used for waterproofing the surface of roads and bridges, reducing the erosion of water on road and bridge structures, and improving the safety and durability of roads and bridges. After the bridge deck pavement was treated with sodium methyl silicate, the degree of water damage to the asphalt pavement was significantly reduced, and the maintenance cycle was greatly extended. In the construction of mountain roads, the road surface treated with sodium methyl silicate effectively resisted the erosion of the rainy season, and the road damage was significantly reduced.
In other industries, such as electronics, clothing, papermaking, etc., sodium methyl silicate also plays an important role. In the electronics industry, it can be used for waterproof and moisture-proof treatment of electronic components, protecting electronic components from moisture and ensuring the normal operation of electronic equipment. After the circuit board is waterproofed with sodium methyl silicate, the waterproof level of the product is greatly improved, and the after-sales repair rate due to water ingress is greatly reduced. In the production of smart watches, the case treated with sodium methyl silicate can still work normally after being soaked in a certain water depth environment.
In the clothing industry, clothing fabrics can be waterproofed, so that the clothing has good waterproof performance while maintaining breathability and comfort, meeting the wearing needs of consumers in different environments.
In the papermaking industry, paper can be waterproofed to improve the waterproof and moisture-proof performance of paper and expand the application range of paper. After treatment with sodium methyl silicate, the load-bearing capacity retention rate of the produced cartons in a high humidity environment is greatly improved, which effectively improves the competitiveness of the product. In the production of food packaging paper, the moisture-proof performance of paper is significantly improved after treatment with sodium methyl silicate, effectively extending the shelf life of food.
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