Abstract: The invention relates to sodium silicates with a modulus (molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2 O) of 1.3 to 4 in the form of a fine-particle solid in shard-like form or compounds containing these silicates with the ability to reduce incrustation when used as a builder component in detergents. These useful materials are distinguished in particular by the fact that they are in the form of an X-ray amorphous overdried material (primary drying product) with water contents below 15% by weight and apparent densities of the non-compacted solid granules of 500 g/l or lower which has been produced by drying of a water-containing sodium silicate preparation using a hot gas phase as the drying medium and/or by heating of a spray-dried sodium silicate with water contents of at least 15% by weight at temperatures of 120.degree.to 450.degree. C., if necessary accompanied or followed by the application of forces to produce the shard-like structure.