Caustic Soda

[Reviled]

Hey guys

Whats the chemical name for Caustic Soda? I was looking at drain cleaner in the weekend for a heavy duter keg cleaner but none of em said Caustic Soda, I think from memory Sodium Hydroxide seemed to be a popular one, is this is?

[Horace]

Caustic soda can be purchased from farm supply stores. Won't hurt stainless and is very good at removingorganic material. Not good at removing mineral deposits i.e. beer stone. Can get 5kg buckets - will last a lifetime for about $30. Most dangerous form is the crystals so mix it up to a concentrated solution then use this as stock for diluting to usable conc. It is anhydrous so ALWAYS add the powder to water not the other way round. Its not that hard to use if your not an idiot. Usable conc. has a pH of about 11 I think.
Have got some better info somewhere, when I get home could dig it out. Don't use on aluminium, it will disolve brass if left in contact for a long period but for the average home brewer breing once or twice a week it shouldn't matter.

[denimglen]

Ooops, sorry, thought it was harmful for SS.

Little more info here.