Fatty Acids
Whole Oils
Neutralizers
Thickeners
Other
Borax
Borax also known as sodium borate and is a pH buffer. In powder form it is colorless and easily dissolved in water. It can be used to slightly adjust the pH of both bar and liquid soap. It's primary use for biodiesel glycerin soaps is to thicken liquid soap.
Properties added to soap: Thickening, Neutralizing
Effects on biodiesel glycerin soaps:
- Borax can be used to neutralize high pH glycerin or soap.
- Bar Soap - Borax can be used only when the soap has be hot processed to lower the pH of the soap.
- Liquid Soap - Borax can be used at any time to lower the pH of and thicken liquid soap.
- Hybrid Soap - Borax can be used to lower the pH and thicken biodiesel soaps that use both sodium and potassium based glycerin. If the hybrid soap has been cold processed and the soap is solid borax cannot be used to lower the pH of the soap.