Sodium metasilicates, METSO BEADS® 2048 and METSO PENTABEAD®20, offer the convenience of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) in an easy to handle, free-flowing bead. Available in both anhydrous and pentahydrate, sodium metasilicates are the workhorse ingredients in detergents and cleaning products. The metal cleaning, industrial and institutional cleaners, textile and food processing industries all utilize metasilicates for the superior physical and chemical properties. They are also used to manufacture specialty cements used in the drilling industry.