Alka Caustic Soda Flakes 25kg

Commonly known as Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)  or lye, is a highly versatile substance used in a variety of manufacturing processes. Sodium hydroxide is a co-product of chlorine production. This was first prepared and used by soap makers. Today, it is widely used in the textile industry for processes such as scouring, mercerization, and dyeing, integral parts of the textile manufacturing process.

Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture many everyday products, such as paper, aluminum, commercial drain and oven cleaners, and soap and detergents.

Sodium Hydroxide in Cleaning & Disinfectant Products

Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture soaps and a variety of detergents used in homes and commercial applications. Chlorine bleach is produced by combining chlorine and sodium hydroxide. Drain cleaners that contain sodium hydroxide convert fats and grease that can clog pipes into soap, which dissolves in water.

Scouring, is a chemical washing process used to remove unwanted materials from the cotton fabric. In this process, the fabric is boiled in an alkaline solution made up of caustic soda. The caustic soda forms a soap with the free fatty acids through a process called saponification to remove natural wax, oil and other impurities such as the remaining seed fragments in the fabric. This process is usually a prerequisite to most finishing processes within the textile industry.

Caustic soda is also used in mercerizing, a process used to increase the strength, luster and dye affinity of the fabric. In this process, caustic soda is added to the fabric to cause swelling of the fibres which in turn enhances the properties of the fabric. The fabric is usually mercerized under tension to reduce shrinkage, a common occurrence during the mercerizing process.

Lastly, caustic soda is used in textile dyeing as most dyeing processes require a controlled pH level. Hence, caustic soda is added into the solution to maintain the pH levels during dyeing processes.