The sodium silicate salts, which are available over a wide range of alkalinity and thus can be tailored to specific needs find wide use in both soap and detergent formulations.  They serve as builders at higher quantity levels in some detergent formulations, provide a source of buffered alkalinity, aid in keeping soil suspended in laundry wash water, and add crispness to detergent granules.  Sodium silicate is used as a corrosion inhibitor in granular laundry detergent, automatic dishwasher detergent, and built soap, as well as in some liquid laundry detergents, to provide protection of washer and dishwasher metal parts. An additional function of silicate in dishwasher detergents is to provide protection for china patterns and metal utensils.  In soap and detergent nomenclature, "sodium silicate" is ordinarily referred to as "silicate."