Product Overview
Sodium Hydroxide Flakes represent an essential alkaline chemical utilized across multiple industrial manufacturing sectors. Also known as caustic soda, this inorganic compound in our Bases collection exists as a white solid with high solubility in water, releasing substantial heat during dissolution. As an industrial distributor, Alliance Chemical provides this high-purity solid form to ensure reliable performance — supporting your processes without delay. This solid flake form offers handling advantages over liquid counterparts in specific operational setups.
Our Sodium Hydroxide Flakes are sourced with strict adherence to quality parameters, assuring consistency in industrial processes. The material is highly deliquescent, rapidly absorbing moisture and carbon dioxide from the surrounding air, which requires proper storage and packaging integrity. Alliance Chemical supports your production demands by offering multiple packaging sizes, ranging from small-scale quantities to large commercial lots. Every shipment is managed with a commitment to regulatory compliance and prompt logistics, supporting your facility's operational continuity and supply chain stability.
Why This Grade
Choosing the correct grade of Sodium Hydroxide Flakes is essential for maintaining process integrity and preventing equipment damage. While a specific grade is not designated, the solid flake form is preferred in applications requiring anhydrous material or custom dilution. Utilizing a lower-quality material can introduce trace impurities such as heavy metals, chloride ions, or iron, which can interfere with chemical syntheses or cause localized corrosion in stainless steel piping and reactor vessels.
In industrial processes, relying on an incorrect form or grade can lead to severe process failure modes. For instance, in chemical manufacturing, unwanted secondary reactions can occur, reducing overall yield and contaminating the final product. In addition, incorrect moisture content in raw materials can disrupt exothermic dissolution calculations, leading to thermal shock in mixing vessels. By specifying this industrial solid grade, operators ensure predictable reactions, reliable neutralization profiles, and consistent viscosity adjustments without introducing unknown variables.
Chemical Profile
- CAS Number
- 1310-73-2
- Chemical Formula
- HNaO
- Molecular Weight
- 39.997 g/mol
- Boiling Point
- greater than 266 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
- Melting Point
- 604 °F (USCG, 1999)
- Flash Point
- N/A °C
- Specific Gravity
- 1.5 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink
- Appearance
- Sodium hydroxide solution appears as a colorless liquid. More dense than water. Contact may severely irritate skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Toxic by ingestion. Corrosive to metals and tissue.
- Solubility
- 111 % (NIOSH, 2024)
- UN Number
- UN1823
- Hazard Class
- Class 8
- Packing Group
- II
- Proper Shipping Name
- Sodium hydroxide, solid
- GHS Signal Word
- Danger
Values sourced from Alliance Chemical's canonical chemistry registry. Certificate of Analysis (COA) per lot.
Industrial Applications
- Chemical Synthesis and Manufacturing: Acts as a primary reactant and pH regulator in the production of plastics, solvents, and specialized sodium salts.
- Pulp and Paper Processing: Utilized in the cooking and bleaching stages of wood pulp production to separate lignin from cellulose fibers.
- Industrial Water Neutralization: Applied in wastewater treatment systems to neutralize acidic effluents, as described on our wastewater industry page.
- Textile Mercerization and Processing: Used to treat cotton fibers, improving fiber strength, luster, and dye absorption capacity during large-scale manufacturing.
- Soap and Detergent Production: Serves as the primary strong base in the saponification of fats and oils to manufacture industrial soaps.
Hazmat & Shipping
Sodium Hydroxide Flakes are classified as a hazardous material for transport. According to DOT guidelines, this chemical is designated as UN1823, Hazard Class 8, Packing Group II, with the proper shipping name Sodium hydroxide, solid. The signal word for this substance is Danger. Because it is highly corrosive to metals and causes severe skin burns and eye damage, all logistics must conform strictly to hazmat shipping regulations to prevent accidental exposure or equipment damage during transit. Alliance Chemical coordinates with certified carriers to ensure safe transport.
Handling this corrosive solid requires comprehensive personal protective equipment (PPE) as specified by GHS hazard statements H290 and H314. Operators must wear chemical-resistant gloves, protective clothing, and eye protection such as a face shield and splash-resistant goggles to mitigate risks. Inhalation of dust must be prevented by utilizing proper local exhaust ventilation or respiratory protection. Safety showers and eyewash stations must be readily accessible in handling areas to address accidental contact immediately. Refer to the Safety Data Sheet for detailed handling instructions.
Handling & Storage
Store Sodium Hydroxide Flakes in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, keeping temperatures within standard industrial ranges, ideally below 85°F (29°C) to prevent moisture absorption. This compound must be stored in original, tightly sealed containers made of compatible materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or carbon steel. Avoid contact with incompatible substances, including strong acids, organic materials, and metals like aluminum, zinc, or tin, as reaction with these metals generates highly flammable hydrogen gas. Keep containers off concrete floors to prevent moisture migration.
Order & Documentation
Alliance Chemical provides comprehensive support for industrial procurement. We supply a Certificate of Analysis (COA) upon request to confirm chemical specifications, and a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is provided with every order to support your facility's safety programs. To secure your supply of industrial bases, please Request a Quote for bulk volumes or Download the SDS for regulatory compliance.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
Since 1997, Alliance Chemical has supplied premium industrial chemicals from Taylor, Texas under CAGE Code 1LT50, with a COA and SDS included on every order. For industrial use only.
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide Flakes