Lithium silicate, also known as lithium water glass, is soluble in water and alkaline solutions but insoluble in alcohol and organic solvents. Its aqueous solution appears as a colorless transparent or slightly milky white liquid. Lithium silicate is odorless, non-toxic, and non-flammable, with a pH of approximately 11, making it alkaline. Due to its unique properties, lithium silicate has a wide range of applications.Like sodium silicate and potassium silicate, lithium silicate forms a gel when reacted with acids. It is self-drying; after the water evaporates, it forms a water-insoluble dry film with water irreversibility, making its waterproof effect particularly significant.

Aqueous lithium silicate solutions are widely used in industries such as manufacturing and construction:

As a coating binder, it can use water as a solvent. The resulting coating film not only possesses the general properties of inorganic coatings—such as heat resistance, non-flammability, radiation resistance, and non-toxicity—but also features self-drying properties, heat resistance up to 1000°C, excellent abrasion resistance, moisture resistance, weather resistance, resistance to alternating wet and dry conditions, and superior water resistance. It can be used in marine engineering, oil pipelines, ships, bridges, as well as architectural coatings and coatings for building materials, such as bathrooms, kitchens, toilets, buildings, various structural components, and for coating cement, concrete, asbestos shingles, aluminum, iron, wood, synthetic resins, and ceramics. It is particularly suitable for use in humid environments and as a water-resistant decorative coating.

In the textile printing and dyeing industry, lithium silicate aqueous solutions can serve as auxiliary agents such as dye dispersants and softeners, helping to improve dyeing quality and fabric hand feel.

As an adhesive, it can be used on wood, paper, plastic, glass, metal, concrete, bricks, asbestos, as well as corrugated cardboard boxes, fiberboard, insulation boards, TV phosphors, automotive brakes, and clutches, among others.

As a surface treatment agent, it can be directly applied to metal surfaces to serve as a rust inhibitor for steel, a corrosion inhibitor for metal components in accordions, radios, and instruments, and to preserve the luster and color of non-ferrous metal decorative items, daily necessities, and handicrafts; when applied to glass, it forms a surface coating with excellent light transmission and low reflectivity; when applied to galvanized sheet metal, it prevents corrosion in salt water; when applied to plastic film, it enhances moisture and gas barrier properties.