Adhesives and coating materials based upon alkali metal silicate solutions

An adhesive composition based upon an aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate with a content of powdered inorganic filler and optionally organic polymer, which comprises:

• (a) from about 30 to 80 percent by weight of a sodium and/or potassium silicate solution having a solids content of from about 28 to 48 percent by weight, the sodium silicate solution having a weight ratio of from about 2.6:1 to 3.9:1 for SiO.sub.2 /Na.sub.2 O and the potassium silicate solution having a weight ratio of from about 2:1 to 2.6:1 for SiO.sub.2 /K.sub.2 O;
• (b) from about 25 to 50 percent by weight of dispersed crystalline calcium carbonate having a particle size of from about 1 to 45 .mu.m;
• (c) from about 2 to 10 percent by weight of quartz powder with a particle size of up to about 15 .mu.m and a specific surface area of at least about 3.5 m.sup.2 /gm;
• and
• (d) from 0 to 24 percent by weight of a 50 percent by weight stable, aqueous dispersion of an alkali-resistant organic polymer based upon acrylate, styrene/acrylate, styrene/butadiene or a mixture thereof,
• based on the weight of the total composition.