Can sodium hexametaphosphate replace sodium tripolyphosphate?

No
sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO3) 6 is commonly known as sodium phosphate glass and is a type of sodium metaphosphate sodium NaPO3 polymer.

sodium tripolyphosphate Na5P3O10 is a kind of sodium polyphosphate: (NaPO3)n.

So the two are different.

The differences between the two are as follows:

1. Industrial sodium hexametaphosphate is a polysodium salt of six metaphosphates containing six sodium atoms; industrial sodium tripolyphosphate is a polysodium salt of three orthophosphates containing five sodium atoms.

2. The aqueous solution of industrial sodium hexametaphosphate in water is acidic, pH: 5.8-7.0; the aqueous solution of industrial sodium tripolyphosphate in water is alkaline, pH: 9.2-10.

3. The appearance of industrial sodium hexametaphosphate is transparent glass flake or white powder crystal; the appearance of industrial sodium tripolyphosphate is white granular or powder with apparent density of 0.35-0.95g/cm_.
4. In terms of application, metaphosphate is easily hydrolyzed to phosphate. They have something in common. However, industrial sodium hexametaphosphate is more commonly used in water treatment, printing and dyeing, and sodium tripolyphosphate is also used in the ceramic industry.

Zhengzhou Yucai Phosphate Chemical Plant specializes in producing: sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, industrial phosphoric acid, trisodium phosphate, aluminium dihydrogen phosphate, solid aluminium dihydrogen phosphate, liquid aluminium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate and other phosphate series products, after more than 30 years of continuous pursuit and development, relying on skilled chemical technology and product development, equipment updating and more. Colleges and universities have established a good cooperative and sharing relationship, playing a brand in the chemical industry (Yucai Phosphate)!