Caustics 101
When reading please notes that caustic is referred to as bases. The reason is they are at the base of the pH scale. Acids are at the other side, I will post a scale later when I find it. This is not Bs. these is real and if you don’t take it serious one day you will get hurt or hurt someone else and maybe not even know. These facts which I rarely see posted anywhere else on this board. I think that not taking our word is great. But should we be the one finding the information for you. Well, they come from and encyclopedia. you can read more and more about these chemicals. I can’t find and msds sheet anywhere online. I will produce one that says concrete cleaner caustic warning will destroy seal coated surfaces {asphalt}. If you happen to drop by autozone and pick up a bottle of their concrete cleaner you would find that it says those exact words. Remember this is concrete cleaner. Can we use it on concrete? Yes, should we get any on asphalt? No. Why do they sell it to us as concrete and asphalt cleaner. Because its cheap cheap cheap, does it work well yes yes yes yes yes yes, do I use it yes yes yes yes yes. Would I use it on a roof? wellllllllllllllllllll no. Would a roofing contractor? Ask them. this stuff is in more products around your house than you realize. David said the key word control of the products. With any product you use you need control. my argument on a home owner roof its very hard to control. Even if you where using a solution that was not hot. hot meaning stronger. There are better chemicals to use. They are not as cheap. They are certainly not solvents. Solvents might take you straight to jail if you didn’t burn the house down and die first. Solvents are very flammable. That will be in solvents 102. Again I’m not here to tell you to use or not to use a certain chemical. I’m sure that many contractors through out the world use caustics on roofs. Does this mean they are right? No. I like aran have personal testimony. I also have many photo’s of asphalt and roofs that where damaged by other cleaners. I have also been involved in insurance company’s collecting from those contractors that destroyed the roofs. They love to clean foam roofs here in Arizona with caustics. As far as chemical manufactures telling you its safe. I’m sure they will I have no doubt in my mind. Responsible ones will not. Caustic is a base at witch many cleaning compounds derive from. Depending on what strength you mix it will determine the reaction. Water air and base will combine and make it a certain degree of cleaning. Can you control it? Yes. Does it rinse away easy? No. It says it’s sticky and slippery. Will the pH level change when you mix it? Yes.
Acids and Bases, two classes of chemical compounds that display generally opposite characteristics. Acids taste sour, turn litmus (a pink dye derived from lichens) red, and often react with some metals to produce hydrogen gas. Bases taste bitter, turn litmus blue, and feel slippery. When aqueous (water) solutions of an acid and a base are combined, a neutralization reaction occurs. This reaction is characteristically very rapid and generally produces water and a salt. For example, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, NaOH, yield water and sodium sulfate:
H2SO4 + 2NaOH⇄2H2O + Na2SO4
Remember when we talk about neutralizing the caustic. Acid being the opposite end of the spectrum would do the trick. Wow !!!!this means you can neutralize caustic with acid. That means you would have perfect water number 7 pH.
Caustic Chemicals, chemicals that can destroy or severely damage the flesh on contact. Such chemicals include various inorganic and organic acids and bases. The most familiar chemicals called caustics are sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, or lye) and potassium hydroxide (caustic potash). Other chemicals are also caustics, for example, silver nitrate, which has been used as an antibacterial agent and for treating warts.
severely damage flesh-wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alkalies (Arabic al-qili,â€ashes of the saltwort plantâ€), originally the hydroxides and carbonates of potassium and sodium, leached from plant ashes. The term now applies to the corresponding compounds of ammonium, NH4, and the other alkali metals and to the hydroxides of calcium, strontium, and barium. All of these substances produce hydroxide ions, OH-, when dissolved in water. The carbonates and ammonium hydroxide give only moderate concentrations of hydroxide ions and are termed mild alkalies. The hydroxides of sodium and potassium, however, produce hydroxide ions in high enough concentration to destroy flesh; for this reason they are called caustic alkalies. Solutions of alkalies turn red litmus blue, react with and neutralize acids, feel slippery, and are electrical conductors.
Caustic soda, or sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is an important commercial product, used in making soap, rayon, and cellophane; in processing paper pulp; in petroleum refining; and in the manufacture of many other chemical products. Caustic soda is manufactured principally by electrolysis of a common salt solution, with chlorine and hydrogen as important by-products.
Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, one of the mild alkalies, is manufactured from natural deposits or made from common salt brines by the Solvay process (see Soda). It is used in the manufacture of glass and as a cleaning agent and water softener.
Sodium carbonate is used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics, in the pulping of wood to make paper, and in the manufacture of soap.<FONT COLOR="Red"><FONT size="6">Text[/).]size] It is also used in petroleum refining, as a water softener, as a cleaner and degreaser in washing compounds, and in the manufacture of other sodium-containing compounds, such as sodium hydroxide.
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Ron Marshal Phoenix AZ
1-888-fleetwash
[This message has been edited by Ron Marshal (edited January 04, 2001Text[/).]size]
[This message has been edited by Ron Marshal (edited January 04, 2001).]