In construction, SLS serves as an air entraining agent and foaming agent in lightweight concrete, foam concrete, and aerated cementitious systems — widely used in GCC residential and infrastructure construction for thermal insulation, void filling, and load reduction. In personal care and cleaning, SLS is the primary foaming agent in shampoos, body washes, toothpaste, and detergents manufactured across the GCC.
Technical specifications
| PARAMETER | SPECIFICATION | TEST METHOD |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | 151-21-3 | — |
| Chemical Name | Sodium Lauryl Sulphate / Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) | — |
| HS Code | 3402.11 | — |
| Appearance (powder) | White to cream free-flowing powder or needles | Visual |
| Active Content | ≥ 92.0 % (powder grade) | Two-phase titration |
| Moisture Content | ≤ 3.0 % | Karl Fischer |
| pH (1% solution) | 7.5 – 9.5 | — |
| Sulphate Content | ≤ 2.0 % | — |
| Unsulphated Matter | ≤ 3.0 % | — |
| Foaming Power | High — > 160 mm (Ross-Miles) | — |
| Shelf Life | 24 months in sealed bags, < 30°C | — |
Applications
- Foam Concrete & Lightweight Concrete GCC — SLS is the primary foaming agent used in mobile foam generators on GCC construction sites to produce foam concrete (cellular lightweight concrete) for void filling, thermal insulation, load reduction on podium slabs, and lightweight floor screed applications.
- Air Entraining in Cementitious Systems — Used as an AEA in tile grouts, renders, and construction mortars where a degree of air entrainment improves workability and reduces density — similar in function to AEA admixtures but in solid powder form for dry-mix mortar applications.
- Personal Care Manufacturing — GCC — Primary foaming surfactant in shampoos, shower gels, body washes, hand sanitiser bases, liquid soaps, and toothpaste produced by GCC personal care manufacturers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
- Industrial Cleaning & Detergents — Used in industrial cleaning formulations, car wash detergents, and household cleaning products manufactured or sold across the GCC.
- Textile & Leather Processing — Wetting and scouring agent in textile and leather processing operations — GCC garment and leather factories in Sharjah, Riyadh industrial zones, and Qatar industrial areas.
Key properties
- High foaming power — produces dense, stable foam at low concentrations
- Excellent wetting and degreasing performance
- Good compatibility with anionic and non-ionic surfactant co-actives
- Powder form — easy weighing and incorporation into dry formulations
- High active content (≥ 92%) — cost-effective per unit surfactant
- Biodegradable — environmentally acceptable for GCC regulatory environments
- Compatible with cement, gypsum, and standard cementitious systems
- Broad temperature stability across GCC ambient range
Usage and recommendations
For foam concrete: prepare a 3–5% SLS solution in water, foam with a generator to produce a stable foam of density 50–100 g/L, then blend with cement slurry to target density (300–1,800 kg/m³). SLS produces a more stable foam than detergent alternatives — critical for consistent foam concrete density across GCC construction sites. For personal care: use at 5–15% in liquid shampoo formulations. Handle with care — powder is irritating to eyes and respiratory tract. Use appropriate PPE during handling.
Packaging
- 25 kg Multi-Wall Paper Bags
- 500 kg Supersacks
Storage and shelf life
Store in sealed bags in a cool, dry warehouse below 30°C. Avoid moisture — SLS is hygroscopic and cakes on moisture uptake. Avoid temperatures above 40°C — SLS can begin to decompose. Shelf life: 24 months.