Sodium Hexametaphosphate

Sodium Hexametaphosphate (SHMP) is a high-efficiency sequestrant and dispersing agent widely used across industrial applications. It appears as a white, odorless powder or granule, highly soluble in water, and is valued for its ability to chelate metal ions, soften water, and disperse solids. Its role in preventing scale formation and stabilizing chemical formulations makes it a key ingredient in water treatment, cleaning agents, and textile processing. It is the primary active ingredient in many commercial and industrial water treatment formulations, most notably as the original key component in the Calgon® brand of water softeners and scale inhibitors. While modern "Calgon" products may contain blended formulations, the term has become a common genericized reference for polyphosphate-based scale prevention, rooted in this chemical's function.