Caustic soda flakes for textile processing

How the industry uses caustic soda flakes

Textile mills use sodium hydroxide at several stages of cotton and blended-fabric processing. Mercerising — treating cotton under tension with a strong caustic solution — gives the fibre its strength, lustre and dye affinity, and it is one of the largest textile uses of NaOH.

• Mercerising of cotton yarn and fabric for strength, lustre and dye uptake
• Scouring to remove natural waxes, pectins and seed residues before bleaching
• Dye-bath pH control and vat-dye reduction processes
• Desizing support and equipment cleaning

What to specify when you buy

• High and stable assay — mercerising works in a narrow concentration window; weak or carbonated caustic gives uneven lustre.
• Low sodium carbonate — carbonate interferes with mercerising and builds up in recovered lye.
• Low iron — iron deposits show as stains on white and pastel fabrics.

Recommended supply

Mills normally standardise on the 99% min grade; 25 kg bags for smaller dye houses, jumbo bags for continuous ranges.

Full technical data on the caustic soda flakes product page · packing and container details under packing and loading · storage guidance in our handling guide.