A-A-876 Alkali, Laundry

A-A-876

August 8, 1980

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

ALKALI LAUNDRY

The General Services Administration has authorized the use of this

Commercial Item Description in lieu of Federal Specification P-A-450.

Laundry alkali is intended for use with detergents or soaps in heavy duty laundering of white or colored cotton, cotton/polyester blended, or 100 percent polyester fabrics. It is suitable for use in hard or soft water. It is not intended for use in laundering woolen, silk, rayon, or acrylic fabrics or blends thereof.

Salient characteristics:

The laundry alkali shall be free-flowing in powdered or granular form and shall be a blend of active and buffering alkalies. The compound shall emulsify mineral type soils, shall saponify fatty vegetable and animal soils, and shall have an anti-redeposition capability; it shall be free-rinsing.

The pH value of a 0.5 percent aqueous solution at 25^o + 0.5^o C shall be a minimum of 11.7.

The total alkalinity, calculated as Na₂0, shall be a minimum of 56.5 percent as determined by the appropriate section of ASTM Standard D 501.

The active alkalinity, calculated as Na₂0 shall be a minimum of 35.0 percent as determined by titration with IN sulfuric acid to the phenolphthalein endpoint.

Certification. The contractor shall certify that the product offered meets the salient characteristics of this description and that the product conforms to the producer’s own drawings, specifications, standards and quality assurance practices and is the same product offered for sale in the commercial marketplace. The Government reserves the right to require proof of such conformance prior to first delivery and thereafter as may be otherwise provided for under the provisions of the contract.

Packaging, packing, and marking. The packaging and packing shall be in accordance with normal commercial item description and shall assure acceptance by common carrier and provide product protection against loss and damage during multiple shipments, handling, and storage. The shipping container shall be in compliance with National Motor Freight Classification and Uniform Freight Classification. Marking shall be in accordance with the contract or order.