Sodium thiocyanate is used as a precursor for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. It is used to prepare alkylthiocyanates by reacting with alkyl halides. It is involved nucleophilic substitution reactions with phase-transfer catalysts. It is a common laboratory reagent used to test presence of Fe
3+ ions. It acts as a spinning solvent for polyacrylonitrile in fiber industry, photographic stabilizer, corrosion inhibitor, polymer stabilizer and hardening accelerator for cement and concrete mixes. Further, it is also used in both the crystallization and purification of proteins This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.