| abstract |
The present invention pertains to a crystalline hydrated layered sodium silicate/amorphous sodium silicate composite material with predetermined hardness ion sequestration properties achieved by control of the process for forming the material, and a process for making the material. The process for producing the crystalline hydrated layered sodium silicate/amorphous sodium silicate composite consists of producing a crystalline sodium disilicate by heating a sodium silicate at a specified time and temperature. The resulting material may include amorphous material, and the crystalline sodium disilicate can be either alpha-phase or delta-phase disilicate. This crystalline sodium disilicate is then hydrolyzed with up to 50.0 milliequivalents per gram of either H3O+ ions or OH- ions. The resulting material can sequester Ca2+ ions, Mg2+ ions, or both, depending on the results desired, processing conditions, and starting materials used. |