SOAP-ER KNOWLEDGE

Soap-er Knowledge Here you’ll find all blog posts about the history of soapmaking. AllgemeinHistoryTutorial Ancient soap recipes Read More HPTutorial Hot Process soaping – generations ago! Read More ChemistryHistory Carbonate Soaps Read More AllgemeinHistory Soapmaking in the centuries Read More

Glass Disease

Glass Disease: A Threat to Glass Products Discover the unseen menace lurking within your glass products. From weeping to fragmentation, learn how Glass Disease wreaks havoc and why your glass containers may be part of the problem. Stay tuned for insights into prevention and detection. Protect your glass investments before it’s too late. Glass Disease, also known as “glass malady” or “glass sickness,” is a serious issue that can compromise the integrity of glass products such as windows and doors. This process of decomposition can lead to a variety of symptoms, including weeping, crizzling, spalling, cracking, and even fragmentation. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention measures of this disease is crucial for ensuring the longevity of glass products. Causes of Glass Disease Causes of Glass Disease The main cause of Glass Disease lies in the unstable chemical composition of the glass formula. This instability can be caused by various factors, including: Alkali leaching: Alkali metal ions can leach out of the glass, leading to an increase in the pH level on the surface and the dissolution of silicon in the glass. Lime and alkali metals: The ratio of lime to alkali metals in the glass plays a crucial role in its stability. A lack of lime oxide can cause the alkalis in the glass to become insoluble. Temperature and humidity: Changes in temperature and humidity can affect the composition of the glass, thus endangering its stability and integrity. Environmental conditions: External factors such as humidity and temperature can accelerate the process of glass decomposition. Symptoms of Glass Disease Symptoms of Glass Disease Recognizing the symptoms of Glass Disease is important to take timely action. These include: Weeping: Leakage of alkalis from the glass, known as “weeping.” Crizzling: Formation of a characteristic network of fine cracks visible to the naked eye. Spalling: Formation of distinct cracks on the surface of the glass, accompanied by material detachment. Cracking: Formation of distinct cracks on the surface of the glass. Fragmentation: Breakdown of the glass object into pieces in the final stage of the disease. Why Glass Containers Should Be Avoided Glass containers should be avoided in soap making as the lye used in soap making can react with glass. Lye is highly alkaline and can attack the surface of the glass, leading to the release of alkalis. This exacerbates the process of alkali leaching, thus accelerating the development of Glass Disease. Prevention and Detection Glass Disease poses a serious threat to the integrity of glass products and requires a fundamental understanding of its causes, symptoms, and prevention measures. Through regular inspections, proper care, and control of environmental conditions, we can contribute to prolonging the lifespan of glass products and maintaining their beauty and functionality. In soap making, it is especially important to avoid glass containers to prevent accelerating Glass Disease, as lye can react with glass. Conclusion: In conclusion, Glass Disease presents a significant challenge to the longevity and integrity of glass products. From the insidious onset of weeping to the dramatic fragmentation in its final stages, this degradation process demands attention and action. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and preventive measures is crucial for preserving the beauty and functionality of glass items. Whether it’s through controlling environmental conditions, avoiding reactive materials like glass in certain processes such as soap making, or regular maintenance, proactive steps can mitigate the impact of Glass Disease. Let’s safeguard our glass investments and ensure they stand the test of time against this silent adversary.

OFFBEAT SOAPING

Offbeat soaping Here you will find everthing about offbeat soaping. AllgemeinOffbeat Soaping Offbeat soaping AllgemeinHistoryOffbeat Soaping Alchemy in Soaping

Understanding Lyes, Alkaline Substances, and NaOH

Understanding Lyes, Alkaline Substances, and NaOH Discover the powerful world of lyes and alkaline substances! From their chemical properties to real-world applications like cleaning and manufacturing, learn how these compounds shape our industries while navigating their potential hazards. Get ready to dive deep into the chemistry behind NaOH and its role in our daily lives! Lye: A lye is an aqueous solution of a hydroxide. Lyes are alkaline, meaning they have a pH value > 7. Lyes can decompose organic materials and may cause burns. Examples of lyes include sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). Alkaline Substances: Alkaline substances are bases that, when dissolved in water, release hydroxide ions (OH-). Lyes are a subset of alkaline substances. Not all alkaline substances are lyes, for example, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Alkaline substances have the following properties: They have a pH value > 7. They neutralize acids. They saponify fats into soap. NaOH: NaOH is the chemical formula for sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is a white crystalline substance. It is strongly alkaline and breaks down in water to form caustic soda. Sodium hydroxide is used in various industries, such as in the chemical industry, in the food industry, in paper production, and in cleaning. In summary: Lyes are aqueous solutions of hydroxides. Alkaline substances are bases that release OH- when dissolved in water. Lyes are a subset of alkaline substances. NaOH is the chemical formula for sodium hydroxide, a strongly alkaline substance that decomposes in water to form caustic soda. Important: Lyes and alkaline substances can be hazardous. When handling them, wearing protective gloves and goggles is advisable. In case of contact with lyes or alkaline substances, rinse the affected area immediately with water.

Carbonate Soaps

Carbonate Soaps A common misinformation about soda soaps debunked! Misinformation about soda soaps is common, especially in the USA. Some people believe that soap made with only fats and washing or baking soda produces a good soap. However, this is not true as soap making was a well-guarded secret and only specialists were able to make great soaps. They learned the exact procedures which took weeks, used different temperatures, different alkali substances, salts, additives, and more. They also did not have measuring tools like a pH meter but had methods to test the pH and quality without them. Challenges in Early Soap Making While simple saponifying of fatty acids is the first step of soda soap making, it does not produce a good soap. Using rancid fat, bones, skins, corpses, and other waste materials was common among older generations. These soaps were good enough to remove stains from clothes and strip fats from the skin but were not suitable for hands, bodies, or even the face. In Europe, people did not have the idea to use self-made soaps for the skin, and most German and Austrian families bought their body soaps instead of making them. Innovation and Controversy in Soap Making The knowledge of soap making was lost over time and oceans, and even in WW2, Germans and Austrians could buy fine body soaps and curd soaps for cleaning. War soaps had zero superfat and glycerine but were not lye-heavy. In those days, clay was used to fill the soap and make it heavier, along with sodium silicate, talc, alumina, kaolin, and other materials. The use of these materials was considered cheating and sometimes even forbidden by law. Using the recipes from well-known companies, soda soaps can be superb, with a wonderful smell, nice lather, and a soft feeling on the skin. However, making such soap requires time, love, and lots of practice. Soap making is a difficult process and was not easy even 220 years ago. The effort put into making the soap is well worth it. Crafting Excellence: The Art and Challenge of Soda Soap Making Using the recipes from well-known companies, soda soaps can be superb, with a wonderful smell, nice lather, and a soft feeling on the skin. However, making such soap requires time, love, and lots of practice. Soap making is a difficult process and was not easy even 220 years ago. The effort put into making the soap is well worth it.

SOAPING HISTORY

Soaping History Here you’ll find all blog posts about the history of soapmaking. AllgemeinHistoryTutorial Ancient soap recipes Read More HPTutorial Hot Process soaping – generations ago! Read More ChemistryHistory Carbonate Soaps Read More AllgemeinHistory Soapmaking in the centuries Read More