Ã€ votre service, monsieur. (nm)

OT: Quick French assistance? by Huinesoron on 2015-06-23 12:55:00 UTC Reply

I'm translating a technical document into French, and while most of it is standard phrases with built-in translation, and most of the rest is simple things like 'Mining chemicals' which I can handle, I've got one massive paragraph I'd prefer to have an actual French speaker translate.

So if anyone's around quite quickly, can I get a translation of this:

Sodium Silicate Solution is manufactured by dissolving silica sand in sodium hydroxide solution. This gives a strongly caustic product, with varying stochiometry, according to the Na2O:SiO2 ratio in the formulation. These solutions therefore posess nominal formulations of Na2SiO3, Na2Si2O5, and Na2Si3O7, which have Na2O:SiO2 rations of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 respectively, in water. Products from ICL contain 9-18% Na2O by weight, according to grade and application. This information refers to sodium silicate solution with Na2O:SiO2 ratios below about 1:1.65.

hS

(PS: So how long's it been since you've seen an Off-Topic: tag on the Board? There's not much that's OT for the PPC Board!)

Maudit francophone, reporting for duty. by SeaTurtle on 2015-06-23 14:20:00 UTC Reply

This is the best I can come up with:

"La solution de silicate de sodium est manufacturée en faisant dissoudre du dioxyde de silicium dans une solution d'hydroxyde de sodium. Le résultat est un produit extrêmement caustique avec une stoechiométrie qui varie en fonction du rapport Na₂O : SiO₂ du composé. Par conséquent, ces solutions possèdent des formulations nominales de Na₂SiO₃, Na₂Si₂O₅ et de Na₂Si₃O₇ qui ont des rapports Na₂O : SiO₂ de 1:1, 1:2 et 1:3 respectivement dans l'eau. Les produits du ICL contiennent de 9 à 18% de Na₂O par masse selon leur type et leur application. Cette information fait référence à la solution de silicate de sodium avec un rapport Na₂O : SiO₂ d'à peu près 1:1,65."

One thing: I'm feeling iffy about the translation of "by weight, according to grade and application". I translated "weight" into "masse" (as in by mass unit whatevers) and "grade" into "type" (I would use "quality" as an alternate translation but I'm missing a little context so I played it safe). Any additional information would help me polish up this passage.

Otherwise, I feel 95% sure this is correct. I'm not a really super-technical writer (yet) so I'd advise you trying to seek a professional in your field to double-check this thing because this looks important.

You're awesome. by Huinesoron on 2015-06-23 15:01:00 UTC Reply

'Type' is probably better than 'quality', since it's talking about a wide range of things - the ratio under discussion, strength, possibly even method of manufacture. 'Mass' is pretty much correct.

...this looks important.

I only wish. ^_^ 'This' is required documentation for selling sodium silicate solution (obviously) to France. It's pretty unlikely anyone will bother to read it, and nearly certain that they won't care about this paragraph, which on looking at it contains no safety information at all. It's basically an excuse for not trying to put a precise formula in where there should be one.

So thank you very much! Did I say you're awesome yet? Because you're awesome.

hS

Ã€ votre service, monsieur. (nm) by SeaTurtle on 2015-06-23 16:37:00 UTC Reply