Sodium silicate and potassium silicate are quite similar, however, the use of sodium silicate has been found to more effective.

Also, to achieve higher compressive strength, the sodium silicate can be combined with sodium hydroxide to propel more dissolution of the silicate and the aluminate monomers

@Adeyemi Adesina Thanks for your help,I will follow your advice.

Here is a great paper on this topic Article Effect of the Alkali Metal Activator on the Properties of Fl...

Thanks,

Mehdi,

Apart from the "chemical differences" there is one big difference between sodium and potassium silicate, which will have a decicive influence on fresh and hardened properties of your geopolymer. By comparing potassium and sodium silicate solutution with similar reactivity (i.e. molar ratio of SiO2/M2O, where M is Na or K), potassium silicate solution will always have a lower viscosity than sodium silicate solution. We started GP reasearch with sodium silicate solution with a viscosity of approximately 350 MPas. The comparable (in terms of reactivity) potassium silicate solution which we are using since almost four years has a viscosity of 20 MPas. By using alkaline activators with lower viscosity you can reduce the amount of liquid phase in your system, which leads to: lower porosity, lower shrinkage, higher strength, more durable binders, ...

Pottasium silicate and KOH activator has the best binding property. It needs smaller amount than NaOH/Na silicate to activate and gives higher strength and durabilty. And their viscosity is different . (K silicate has lower viscosity than Na- Silicate)

Pottasium silicate and KOH activator have the best binding property for geopolymers. It requires a smaller amount than NaOH/ sodium silicate to activate and gives higher strength and durability. And their viscosity is different. (Pottasium silicate has a lower viscosity than sodium- Silicate).

Anyway, the production cost (the price of the activators) may another, question?

My response would be based on the price. K-silicate is costlier in comparison to Na-silicate.