Can I bring caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) in my checked-in luggage?

I will be going to the US and from what I've heard, caustic soda is quite expensive plus you have to drive long distances to get it. I'd like to engage in some personal 'pain and pleasure' with my partner and I sometimes used corrosive substances.

I was thinking if I could just bring a plastic bottle that I get from Tesco and pop it in the checked-in bag. Will there be any issues? I see it might raise some concerns but honestly it's not flammable.

Best Answer

No, you are not allowed to bring sodium hydroxide, neither in checked-in or carry-on luggage. In Table 2.3.A Provisions for Dangerous Goods Carried by Passengers or Crew (Subsection 2.3), IATA lists dangerous goods that are allowed under special circumstances. Nowhere in that document are corrosive or alkaline substances mentioned (nor acidic, for that matter).

From previous questions I see that you're flying Ethiopian Airlines. On their restricted items page, they write the following:

For safety reasons, dangerous articles as defined in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, such as those listed here below shall not be carried as, within, or as part of passengers’ baggage.

And in the list that follows they explicitly mention

Corrosive materials (such as acids, alkalis, mercury and wet cell batteries).

I'd recommend you to follow the advice given in the comments. I can't imagine it being particularly difficult nor expensive to buy sodium hydroxide once you're in the U.S.