Tuesday, July 29, 2014

What is Sodium Hydrosulfite?

Sodium Hydrosulfite is a chemical used in the production of many household products. This versatile compound is in high demand because of its increasing popularity. The chemical formula for this compound is, NaHSO3. In structure, it is the sodium salt of dithionic acid, also known as sodium dithionate.

Some of the most common industries that rely on this chemical for the production of their products are; textiles, dying processes, chemical processing, leather, photographic, polymers, gas purification, etc. This compound is also used for carrying out physiology experiments.

Most commonly, this chemical performs the following roles:

Reducing Agent: When this compound works as a reducing agent, it chemically reduces other components by donating an electron or electrons. 

Sulfonating Agent: In this role, it adds sulfur to another chemical compound.

Cation Source: When it works as a cation source, it adds a cation or sodium, to the product system.

Sodium Hydrosulfite: Is considered an inexpensive and safe reducing agent for the reduction of vat dyes and sulfur containing dyes. On the other hand, it’s also used as bleaching agent in reductive bleaching processes. If stored and kept with caution, it has a shelf life of over 12 months.
 
Usage of this chemical requires many safety precautions such as:
  • You must use this chemical with proper ventilation.
  • Keep it away from heat and water.
  • No inhalation.
  • Store it in a cool and dry area.
When buying this chemical, make sure that you buy it from a reliable vendor that processes it in compliance, to ensure that it meets with the industrial standards. You can purchase this chemical in the form of white crystalline powder. Shipping of this chemical is an important aspect, and it should be performed under appropriate caution.

Perform a reputation check of the vendor, and get everything sorted out, before you make the final decision. Get in touch with the concerned officials, if you have any doubts or questions left.

Safety precautions for workers: Usage of this chemical is intended for industrial use only. Workers conducting the production of this chemical should work under controlled conditions. Worker must use personal protective equipments to ensure their health and safety.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Be cautious when choosing paint for your home

When remodeling a house, there are hundreds of things to keep in mind like; interiors, flooring, the final layout and lastly; the house paint.

However, when it comes to painting your home, there are many things to be considered like; color, texture, attractive designing patterns etc. In addition to this, emphasis is also to be laid on the details of paint rather than simply concentrating on colors and textures.

Sometimes, manufacturers add harsh and cheap chemical reactive diluents to their paint, which can be harmful for those people residing in the house. The polluting gases present in such paints, lead to several health problems such as; frequent headaches, breathing disorders, irritation in the eyes and more. Unfortunately, Harmful VOC components are introduced in the paint during production, by many paint manufacturers, in order to make bigger profits.

Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for the house owner, to be cautious when buying paint, and look at the details of the paint, printed on the can.

Before you make a choice, it is important to enquire about the paint constituents and about the paint companies.
Make a list of the top renowned paint companies, which only deliver quality paints to their customers.

Choosing organic paints is definitely a safer option. Not only you would get a colorful wall, but also get a healthy surrounding, as there would be no risk of health hazards.

Therefore, it is very important to do a thorough research before buying house paint. After all, it is yours and your family’s health that’s important.

Choose paint that is safe, as well as cost effective, if you do not want to end up spending too much money on paint.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Some common types of plastic coloring agents

There is a large variety of plastics available in the market. Different materials are used for making different types of plastic. This difference requires the use of different dyes for coloring.

If a plastic product is made out of nylon (a regular material that is commonly used for making Frisbee discs), it can be dyed by adding water to the acid Dye. The plastic is then heated in that water. Mild acid like vinegar is added to the water to achieve the required pH value. Nylon works well with acid dyes, whether it is in the form of woven textile fiber or plastic form.

The dye bath should be kept at 185 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is higher, it may distort the shape of the nylon product, and may damage the fabric. But, at the same time low temperature is not going to work well either, because it will not allow the dye to bond perfectly with the fiber. 

Another common material used for making plastic products is polyurethane, which can be dyed using acid plastic dyes. This material can easily be damaged if the temperature is set high. Polyester is a material that cannot be colored using any of the dyes that have been mentioned above. This material can only be colored using colorants from the category of Disperse dyes.

Acid dyes do not blend well with polyester. The process used for disperse dyes demands higher temperatures, preferably above a hundred degree centigrade. If the temperature is set below this, it may result in a disappointing output. This material is a preferred choice when it comes to coloring synthetic materials like acetate and acrylics.

This material cannot be used for dyeing acrylics, which is the safest choice of material for regular usage. Acrylics can also be colored by using basic or cationic ones. When using the basic ones it is essential to have a safe laboratory. When using it at home, we must be very careful as it may stain everything that it comes in contact with, real bad.

You simply cannot color some plastics at home. Some of them have to be dyed only when they are in the liquid form. For instance, polypropylene that is marked with recycle log 5 is used for making water bottles, sports clothing, stain-resistant carpets, and upholstery materials, etc.
This material requires special material for coloring, because it repels water molecules.