In order to meet the growing demands and preferences of customers, cleaning chemicals are constantly being improved in both quantity and quality. While choosing the product you want is not difficult, determining how to use the right type of chemical can be tricky. Depending on your intended purpose, you can make the right decision about which product is suitable. In the article below, Cường Thịnh Chemical Company will list the 5 most commonly sold cleaning chemicals on the market today. These are essential products for daily life.
1. Alkaline Cleaning Chemicals
Image: Alkaline cleaning chemicals
There are many types of cleaning chemicals with characteristics suitable for various applications. Some can be alkaline, while others may contain acidic compounds. These chemicals are classified differently according to their pH scale.
Alkaline cleaners are chemicals with a pH greater than or equal to 8. NAOH is one of the most common and excellent alkaline chemicals, with a pH of 14. It is a cleaning agent that can effectively remove grease and oil from industrial processes. As such, it is mainly used to clean water pipelines and municipal sewage systems.
Additionally, alkaline cleaning chemicals such as baking soda or sodium bicarbonate can be used to clean surfaces like glass and tiles, effectively removing grease, oil, and fats. Alkaline detergents are also effective at removing stains from clothing. These alkaline cleaners loosen the bond between oils and the surfaces being cleaned.
2. Acidic Cleaning Chemicals
Image: Acidic cleaning chemicals
Acidic cleaning agents are classified based on their pH levels, which range from 1.0 to 5.5, with lower numbers indicating a higher concentration of acid. Acidic cleaning chemicals are often made from compounds found in phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, or hydrofluoric acid, and are typically formulated as aqueous solutions. These solutions use wetting agents to enhance the cleaning of metals and wash away particles. Meanwhile, the acid works to remove rust, oxidation, scale, and other contaminants.
Acidic cleaning chemicals are often used to remove mineral deposits or rust stains from surfaces like sinks and glass. Since many mineral deposits dissolve more readily in acidic solutions, acidic cleaners are ideal for removing these minerals. However, strong acidic cleaners can be hazardous, causing corrosion on metal surfaces or human tissue.
3. Solvent-based Cleaning Chemicals
Image: Solvent-based cleaning chemicals
Solvent-based cleaners combine an organic solvent, such as white spirits. White spirits are a mixture of various saturated hydrocarbons with 7 to 12 carbon atoms. This mixture also contains an emulsifying agent, a chemical that helps stabilize the water-oil mixture. This type of chemical works similarly to those found in many common cleaning products. In addition to the organic solvent and emulsifier, solvent-based cleaners often contain some water.
When applied to oil, wax, or grease, the solvent penetrates the stain and softens it. The emulsifier allows the wax or grease to dissolve in the mixture and can then be removed by wiping with warm water. This combination of chemicals outperforms white spirits or paraffin on its own because the emulsifying agents reduce the buildup of dirt, making it easier to clean with water.
Pure white spirits or paraffin evaporate faster than solvent-based cleaners. When they do, the waxy liquid often re-adheres to the floor. Generally, less solvent-based cleaner is needed compared to solvents to remove wax and grease. Since solvent-based cleaners contain some water, they are less flammable than pure white spirits. These chemicals work on many types of surfaces and floors, including concrete, linoleum, wood, cork, and stone.
