Application & Products Health & Beauty Food Pools & Water Treatment Air Pollution Industrial Pulp & Paper Foam Blowing Anti-Slip Other Applications Bicarbonates TECHNICAL DATA TOOLS Contact Us Directions Printer Friendly Find Certified Distributor Other Applications Leather Tanning Tanning by any method is a time consuming and exacting process, requiring careful control of pH, temperature, humidity, and concentration factors. Bicarbonate increases the alkalinity of chromium sulfate solutions to favor the reaction cross-linking chrome complexes with hide collagen. The reaction stabilizes the hide collagen fibers so they are no longer biodegradable. Sodium bicarbonate is commonly used as a pH control in basic leather tanning and ammonium bicarbonate is used for finer leathers where the sodium ion may be too harsh. Oil Drilling In oil well drilling, a drilling mud is utilized for the purpose of lubrication and also serves as a coolant. Another function of a drilling mud is to keep the hose free from bore cuttings. Most drilling muds are made of a suspension of barites and bentonite or attapulgite clay in either water or a petroleum oil. To be effective, a drilling mud must have a specific gravity of at least 2.0 and should be thixotropic with appreciable gel strength. Sodium bicarbonate, as a component of drilling mud, reacts with hydroxide ions released while drilling out the case cement. The sodium salts remaining from the reaction help maintain the mud's viscosity and gel strength. Sodium bicarbonate helps to maintain the pH of the mud and to scavenge caustic calcium oxide turning it into a harmless carbonate. The pH of the carbonate formed is more favorable to maintaining the viscosity of the drilling mud. Fire Extinguishers Sodium bicarbonate is used in most dry fire extinguishers. The products when dispensed absorb heat, decompose to form fire smothering carbon dioxide, and release free radicals which interrupt the flame chain reaction mechanism. Potassium bicarbonate is utilized more in industrial applications because it decomposes at the higher temperatures found in grease and chemical type fires. Fires are divided into four classes, each requiring special treatment. The essential point in extinguishing all types is exclusion of air from the fire by the most effective means. Class A includes fires in combustible materials, such as wood, paper and cloth where the quenching and cooling effect of water is effective and most widely used. In the soda-acid extinguisher carbon dioxide is generated within the cylinder at the time of use. Class B includes fires in flammable liquids where a blanketing or smothering effect is essential. Dry chemical bicarbonate extinguishers are ideal here. Class C includes fires in electrical equipment. The use of carbon dioxide gas or dry chemical extinguishers is recommended and water should not be used. Class D fires are the results of burning metals. Powder formulations consisting of graphite or trimethoxyboroxine will extinguish a metal fire; water should not be used.