Strontium silicate is a chemical compound with the formula SrSiO3. It is a white, powdery substance that is insoluble in water and finds use in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. One of the main properties of strontium silicate is its high melting point, which makes it suitable as ceramic manufacturing raw material. It is also an excellent electrical insulator with high resistance to chemical attack, making it useful in the production of glass. In addition to its function as a refractory material, this substance has many other applications. It is commonly used as a filler in plastics, rubbers, and paints and is also employed in producing ceramics, enamels, and glazes. It is also a catalyst for creating certain chemicals and has been found useful in manufacturing pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
JAM Group Co. is a leading company operating in the business world for many years. As a high-quality strontium silicate manufacturer, JAM Group is dedicated to providing top-quality products and services to its clients. With a highly skilled and experienced professional team, the company is well-equipped to help you find innovative solutions to complex problems or streamline your business processes. This company, an Iran strontium silicate supplier, offers different grades of strontium silicate with varying amounts of purity. JAM Group Co. regularly engages in initiatives to give back to the community and minimize its environmental impact. With a strong track record of success and a commitment to making a positive impact, JAM Group Co. is a trusted choice for businesses seeking high-quality solutions and products, including strontium silicate.
What is Strontium Silicate?
Strontium (Sr) is a newly employed substance in the ceramic industry. Various reasons are involved in applying this chemical and its compounds (like strontium silicate) instead of other currently employed ones, such as zinc oxide, in such an industry. Before moving on from this topic to the detailed description of why Sr and strontium-based compounds, such as strontium carbonate and silicate, are involved in this industry, we must briefly discuss zinc oxide.
What is Zinc Oxide?
Zinc Oxide is a very adaptable industrial chemical. It has been utilized by numerous large producers as an additional element for their goods. One is the ceramics sector; zinc oxide is crucial to ceramics and has led to an improved ceramic selection. It is mainly used in the ceramics industry to create a glaze finish and build a low thermal expansion. This substance has excellent qualities for manufacturing ceramics, including a relatively low coefficient of expansion, a reasonably high heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and high-temperature stability. In the process of creating frits and enamels for ceramic items, it transforms into a fluxing agent.
However, ZnO has several drawbacks, including photo corrosion, the rapid recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and the fact that it is only active with UV light. In addition, numerous published studies have shown the toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles on various organs and cell types. The high solubility of the particles, which led to cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, was attributed to these harmful effects. Last but not least, Zinc oxide counts as a costly chemical compound compared to strontium and its derivatives. It makes the application of ZnO into ceramics problematic. As a result, many producers decide to go for Sr as a ceramic manufacturing raw material. In the next subsection, you will find out more about strontium and its properties.
What is Strontium?
Strontium is a chemical element with the atomic number 38 and the symbol Sr. Strontium, an alkaline earth metal, is a delicate silver-white yellowish metallic element that is very chemically reactive. When exposed to air, the metal develops a black oxide layer. Like its two vertical neighbors in the periodic table, barium, and calcium, strontium exhibits physical and chemical characteristics. It is typically obtained from the minerals celestine and strontianite, which are found naturally. It is a mildly soluble SrO source used in the ceramic industry. Producers usually take into practice SrO-containing compounds, such as strontium silicate and strontium carbonate over zinc oxide, in glaze making.
One reason is that strontium silicate has a higher melting point than zinc oxide, which makes it more suitable for use as a refractory material in the production of ceramics and glass. Strontium silicate is also an excellent electrical insulator, making it helpful in producing ceramics for electronic applications. In addition, strontium silicate has a higher resistance to chemical attack than zinc oxide, which makes it and its compounds, like strontium silicate and carbonate, more durable and long-lasting when used in ceramics.
However, gases created by the breakdown of strontium carbonate (because it contains carbon) can result in pinholes or blisters in glazes. It occurs when they are being formed into a glaze melt with a viscosity and surface tension that cannot pass them or heal over correctly as they leave or one that does not have time due to rapid cooling. So, chimists highly recommend replacing this chemical with strontium silicate.
Strontium Silicate Properties
About 95 percent of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle consists of silicates, which also exist in significant amounts in sedimentary and metamorphic rock types. Silicates are the primary component of the majority of igneous rocks. Additionally, they comprise a considerable portion of meteorites, most asteroids, and lunar samples. They have also been found by planetary spacecraft on Mercury, Venus, and Mars surfaces. A handful of the 600 or so known silicate minerals, such as the feldspars, amphiboles, pyroxenes, micas, olivines, feldspathoids, and zeolites, are essential in the creation of rocks.
Strontium silicate, also known as strontium metasilicate, is a chemical compound with the formula SrSiO3. It is a white, crystalline solid that is insoluble in water and has a high melting point of about 1850°C, making it a valuable material for high-temperature applications. Strontium silicate is a reliable SrO resource and a recently developed substance as a ceramic manufacturing raw material. Generally, it contains fewer amounts of Sr than strontium carbonate. Still, two crucial facts make it a better choice when it comes to utilizing this substance, instead of strontium carbonate, in ceramics and glaze making.
- First, silicates don’t contain carbon in their formula, unlike carbonates, which feature a carbon atom surrounded by three oxygen atoms. It helps with the pinholes or blisters discussed in the previous subsection;
- Second, strontium silicate contains a silicon atom that boasts ceramic and glaze-making capabilities for several reasons.
Different Grades of Strontium Silicate
The chemical grade is a measurement that reflects the purity of a substance. Higher grades of chemicals with high purity are defined as those that are free of other chemicals, water, metals, or other impurities or only contain a small amount of each; lower grades are those that have more contaminants. Higher-grade chemicals are more expensive than lower-grade chemicals because their production requires laborious processes that are frequently time-consuming. Still, higher grades do not necessarily mean good grades.
In this context, we refer to “the right grade” as the type of chemical that suits its applications. In some cases, chemicals with lower purity amounts may be a more reasonable choice for a specific industry. They might lower costs and helps manufacturers to create a superior outcome. So, the final application is vital in determining which grade is suitable for your enterprise. Each company must carry out various experiments to decide about such matters and reach a general guideline for their case.
The Ceramic Grade of Strontium Silicate
As mentioned in the previous section, strontium silicate is suitable for glaze-making and ceramic manufacturing raw materials. It contains certain amounts of SrO that are appropriate for this application. Strontium is valuable due to its non-hazardous and non-poisonous character. With it, lead and barium can be removed from glazes manufactured at any temperature. Creating glossy glazes that melt at cone 01 without any zinc is feasible. Strontium also produces vibrant hues, similar to lead. It is beneficial for high gloss, craze-resistant glazes that create a good interface with the clay body at lower stoneware temperatures. The mixed-oxide effect is assumed to be responsible for the interface development. It is vital to note that strontium carbonate is usually regarded as a more pure source of SrO than strontium silicate. However, it doesn’t mean that it is a better material for the ceramic industry because it also contains carbon, which causes some problems.
Strontium silicate SrSiO3 stands for three oxygen atoms, one strontium atom, and one Silicon atom. Each cargo of this substance holds various amounts of strontium and specific impurities. The following amounts are usually found in standard grades:
- 35%
- 40%
- 45%
- 50%
Strontium Silicate Production Process
Over the past few years, the usage of strontium and its compounds (like strontium silicate) in the ceramics industry have risen for several reasons. As a result, chemists recently conducted plenty of experiments to discover new methods for producing these substances more efficiently. The production of strontium silicate involves several steps, including the synthesis of the compound from raw materials, the purification of the material to remove impurities, and the formulation of the material into different forms for various applications. In this section, you can explore these steps in more detail, including the methods and techniques used to carry out each step of the production process.
Synthesis from Raw Materials
One method of preparing strontium silicate involves the synthesis of the compound from raw materials, such as strontium oxide (SrO) and silicon dioxide (SiO2). These raw materials can be obtained from natural sources or synthesized from other chemicals. The strontium silicate can be synthesized through various methods, including solid-state reactions, melting processes, and hydrothermal methods.
- In solid-state reactions, the raw materials are mixed and heated until they react to form strontium silicate. This method often synthesizes strontium silicate with high purity, producing minimal by-products. However, it can be slow and requires precise heating and cooling rate control.
- In melting processes, the raw materials are melted together and then cooled to form strontium silicate. Synthesis of strontium silicate using this method is often used to achieve high purity since it produces few by-products. It is necessary to operate at high temperatures and specialized equipment, such as a high-temperature furnace, to accomplish this.
- In hydrothermal methods, the raw materials are mixed and subjected to high pressure and temperature in an autoclave or other specialized vessel. This method is often used to synthesize strontium silicate in large quantities, as it can be carried out efficiently and on a large scale. The process, however, requires specialized equipment and can produce by-products that may need to be removed through purification.
The choice of synthesis method will depend on the desired purity and form of the final product, as well as the availability of raw materials and equipment.
Purification
Strontium silicate may need to be refined after being created to improve its purity and quality. It can be done using various techniques, including centrifugation, filtration, and crystallization.
- In crystallization, strontium silicate is dissolved in a solvent and then allowed to evaporate slowly or cooled to form crystals. The crystals can then be separated from the solvent and any impurities by filtration or centrifugation. Strontium silicate is frequently produced using this method with high purity and little by-product.
- In filtration, strontium silicate is passed through a filter to remove impurities. This method is often used to remove solid impurities or to clarify solutions. However, it may not be effective at eliminating all impurities, and the choice of filter material may be essential to ensure the desired purity of the final product.
- In centrifugation, strontium silicate is spun at high speeds to separate the denser particles from the lighter ones. This method is often used to separate solid impurities or to clarify solutions. Although, it requires specialized equipment and may not effectively remove all contaminants.
Strontium silicate manufacturers determine the type of purification process regarding the specific contaminants present in the material as well as the required purity of the final product.
Formulation into Different Forms
Strontium silicate can be formulated into different forms for various applications, including powders, pellets, and monoliths. These other forms can be prepared through multiple methods, such as pressing, extrusion, and casting.
- In pressing, strontium silicate is compressed into the desired shape using a machine or other equipment. As a result, strontium silicate is often prepared as pellets or tablets and can be carried out at room temperature or elevated temperatures.
- In extrusion, strontium silicate is forced through a die or other shaped opening to produce the desired shape. This method is often used to prepare strontium silicate in rods or tubes and can be carried out at room or elevated temperatures.
- To get the appropriate shape, melted strontium silicate is poured into a mold during casting. This procedure necessitates high temperatures and specialized tools and is frequently used to prepare strontium silicate in the form of monoliths or other complicated structures.
The choice of formulation method will depend on the final product’s desired form, properties, and intended application. For example, strontium silicate in powder form may be preferred for applications requiring a high surface area or for chemical reactions. In contrast, strontium silicate in pellet or monolith form may be selected for structural applications or as a refractory material.
Strontium Silicate Applications
Strontium silicate has critical applications in various industries, including producing glass and other materials that require good thermal stability and resistance to high temperatures and as a ceramic manufacturing raw material. In particular, Strontium silicate suppliers present this substance as a refractory material due to its high melting point and good thermal stability. It is also used in producing glass, particularly specialty glasses that require good heat and thermal shock resistance. In the following, you can read more about the various applications of strontium silicate comprehensively, including its use as a refractory material and in glass production, as well as its use in several other applications.
Refractory Material
One of the most critical applications of Iran strontium silicate is as a refractory material due to its high melting point and good thermal stability. Strontium silicate is commonly used to produce ceramics, glass, and other materials that require good resistance to high temperatures. For example, strontium silicate can be used as a lining material in furnaces and kilns to protect against heat and wear or as a coating material for steel and other metals to improve their corrosion resistance. This substance is also used as a binder in refractory materials, helping to hold the composition together and improving its strength and durability.
Glass Production
Iran Strontium silicate is used in the production of glass, particularly in the production of specialty glasses that require good resistance to heat and thermal shock. For example, strontium silicate can produce glass fibers in various applications, such as insulation, filtration, and reinforcement. Strontium silicate also functions in making glass ceramics, which combine the properties of glass and ceramics and can be found in various applications, such as cookware, optics, and medical devices.
Other Applications
In addition to its use as a refractory material and glass production, strontium silicate has several other applications. For example, strontium silicate is used as a filler material in paints, plastics, and other materials to improve their properties, such as their strength and resistance to wear. Strontium silicate catalyzes chemical reactions, helping speed up the response and improve efficiency. Finally, strontium silicate plays a role in producing other chemicals and compounds, such as strontium carbonate, which can be used to manufacture pigments and other materials.
About JAM Group’s Strontium Silicate
JAM Group Co. is a highly reputable and respected company that has been operating in the business world for many years. Known for its reliable and high-quality strontium silicate products, the company is dedicated to providing exceptional products and services to its clients. The company’s team of skilled professionals continually strives to find innovative solutions to complex problems and streamline business processes. It is vital to note that, as a leading strontium silicate supplier, JAM Group Co. offers a range of grades with varying levels of purity, from 35% to 50%.
In addition to its focus on delivering top-notch products and services, JAM Group is also committed to giving back to the community and minimizing its environmental impact through various initiatives. With a long history of success and a dedication to making a positive impact, JAM Group Co. is a trusted choice for businesses seeking high-quality solutions and products, including strontium silicate. This substance is a perfect alternative for strontium carbonate in the ceramics industry; by applying it, specific flaws, such as blisters and pinholes, may be avoided easily. Iran strontium silicate is also more affordable than other compounds, such as zinc oxide and strontium carbonate. For more information on this product, we highly recommend you to click on About Us.
Conclusion
Strontium silicate (SrSiO3) is a common material used in a range of industrial and commercial applications. It is a white, powdered substance that is insoluble in water. It is available in different grades, with varying levels of purity, and is produced through a process that involves the reaction of strontium oxide and silica. One of the main properties of strontium silicate is its high melting point, which makes it desirable as a refractory material in the production of ceramics and glass. In addition to its use as a refractory material, strontium silicate has several other applications, including as a filler in plastics, rubbers, and paints and as a catalyst in producing certain chemicals. Strontium silicate is a reliable alternative for strontium carbonate as a ceramic manufacturing raw material since it prevents specific prblems and comes at a more reasonable price.