What metal should not be cleaned with caustic soda?

Author: Tre Douglas  |  Last update: Thursday, December 11, 2025

Sodium Hydroxide reacts with METALS (such as ALUMINUM, LEAD, TIN and ZINC) to form flammable and explosive Hydrogen gas. Sodium Hydroxide can form shock sensitive salts on contact with NITROGEN CONTAINING COMPOUNDS (such as NITROMETHANE).

Which metals react with caustic soda?

Four metals which react with caustic soda or caustic potash solution on boiling and liberate hydrogen gas are :
  • Zinc (Zn)
  • Aluminium (Al)
  • Tin (Sn)
  • Beryllium(Be)

What metals are resistant to caustic soda?

The nickel copper alloys 400 and K500 are resistant to caustic environments, approaching the resistance of Nickel 200. Under very high stress and elevated temperatures these materials can suffer from caustic cracking.

Does caustic soda damage metal?

Hazard statements H290 May be corrosive to metals.

Does caustic soda react with stainless steel?

Experiments have shown that austenitic stainless steels provide good corrosion resistance to NaOH with a concentration of up to 50% and a temperature of around 93 °C. The experiments show that by reducing the concentration of caustic soda, the temperature resistance of the material can be increased.

How To Use Caustic Soda For Cleaning??THINGS NOBODY WILL TELL YOU

Does caustic soda damage brass?

Aluminum, copper, zinc, lead and their alloys (e.g., brass and bronze) are NOT suitable. Sodium hydroxide readily attacks these materials. In addition, considerable heat is generated when liquid sodium hydroxide is mixed with water, which can result in boiling or splattering and may cause a violent eruption.

What does caustic do to steel?

As the temperature rises, the rate of chemical reactions between the steel and the caustic solution increases. This can lead to accelerated corrosion and a higher risk of cracking. The concentration of the caustic solution plays a crucial role.

Is caustic soda safe for aluminum?

In summary, caustic soda plays a vital role in aluminum production, particularly in the Bayer process. Its properties make it essential for the successful and efficient extraction of aluminum from bauxite ore.

What neutralizes caustic soda?

The most common method of neutralizing caustic soda involves using an acid, typically hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The process involves a neutralization reaction, wherein the acid and caustic soda combine to produce water and a salt.

Does caustic soda clean silver?

The very best way to clean your silver jewellery is with mild detergent and warm water. Avoid using soap that contains harsh chemicals, like sodium hydroxide and sulphates.

What is caustic soda incompatible with?

Sodium Hydroxide is not compatible with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); CHLORINATED SOLVENTS; AMMONIA; and ORGANIC MATERIALS. Sodium Hydroxide can attack IRON, COPPER, PLASTICS, RUBBER and COATINGS.

Which metal does not react with sodium hydroxide?

Some elements that do not react with sodium hydroxide solution include noble gases such as helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, as well as certain metals such as gold, platinum, and tungsten.

What is the most corrosive resistant metal?

Corrosion-resistant metals can be a crucial part of any engineering project. The most popular solutions are stainless steel, aluminum alloy, nickel alloys, and copper alloys. However, iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known to man.

Does zinc metal react with caustic soda?

Zinc react with excess sodium hydroxide to form sodium zincate(Na2ZnO2) along with hydrogen gas. Zinc is a transition metal which shows moderate reactivity. Zinc reacts with NaOH to form sodium zincate with the evolution of hydrogen gas. 2NaOH + Zn gives you Na2ZnO2 + h2.

How long does caustic soda stay active?

The activity of caustic soda can be maintained for an extended period if stored under appropriate conditions. With proper storage—using compatible containers, controlling environmental conditions, and preventing contamination—caustic soda can remain active and effective for several years.

Can caustic soda melt metal?

The addition of caustic soda into the solution changes its pH value, which results in the dissolution of more metal thereby facilitating an increased recovery rate in a general leaching system that is more efficient as well.

Does caustic soda dissolve stainless steel?

Sodium Hydroxide, (Caustic Soda), is a strong base. It is used in metal degreasing and cleaning processes in a wide range of industry applications. Stainless steels types 304 and 316 can be considered resistant below 80oC, up to the limit of solubility.

What is a good substitute for caustic soda for cleaning?

Alternatives to Caustic Soda for Industries
  • Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) – A Safer Degreaser. ...
  • Sodium Citrate – Bio-Based Degreaser. ...
  • Amines – Safer Soaps and Detergents. ...
  • Enzymes – Biobased Cleaning Alternatives. ...
  • Borax – A Natural Soda Ash Alternative. ...
  • Citric Acid – A Versatile Cleaning Alternative.

What happens when you mix hydrogen peroxide and caustic soda?

When hydrogen peroxide is mixed with caustic soda, an auto-accelerating reaction can lead to generation of significant amounts of heat and oxygen. On the basis of experiments using typical pulp mill process concentration and temperatures, a relatively simple kinetic model has been developed.

What cleaners should not be used on aluminum?

Cleaners that are formulated to clean metal like stainless steel usually cannot be used for aluminum.

What happens when aluminum reacts with caustic soda?

So, when Aluminium which is an amphoteric metal reacts with caustic soda it will form sodium aluminate and hydrogen gas is evolved as a result. This reaction is highly exothermic.

Is caustic soda compatible with stainless steel?

Metals and alloys most frequently considered for use in caustic soda are carbon steel, stainless steels, nickel and high- nickel alloys. Some alloys, with their generic names, common trade names, UNS numbers and nominal compositions are given in Table 1.

Is titanium resistant to caustic soda?

Titanium is very resistant to alkaline media including solutions of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide.

What is the effect of caustic soda on metals?

Caustic soda has an aggressive impact on most metallic materials, especially at high temperatures and concentrations. It has been known for a long time, however, that nickel exhibits excellent corrosion resistance to caustic soda at all concentrations and temperatures, as shown by Figure 1.

Will caustic soda remove rust?

A chemical deoxidation process based on phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid or caustic soda can remove rust easily, but presents many risks, both for the operators and for the parts.

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