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What are borates?
Borates are naturally-occurring minerals containing boron, the fifth element on the Periodic Table. Trace amounts exist in rock, soil and water. Plants need them to grow. People
need borates, too, as an important part of a healthy diet and an essential ingredient in many products necessary for an acceptable standard of living. The element boron does not exist by itself in nature. Rather, boron combines with oxygen and other elements to form boric acid, or inorganic salts called borates. Despite the millions of tons of industrial borates mined, processed and distributed around the world every year, far larger quantities of boron are transferred around the planet by way of natural forces. Rain, volcanic activity, condensation and other atmospheric activities redistribute at least twice as much boron as all commercial practices combined.
Multiple properties – manifold uses
The key to the borate industry’s strength also lies in nature: specifically, the nature of borates’ structural and bonding characteristics. In living systems, these characteristics
make borates vital to metabolism – the fundamental way in which organisms translate food into energy. Borates abound in industrial systems as well, for two reasons.
First, they’re safe. Used for centuries, borates pose no risk to people, animals or the environment under normal handling and use. Even those who handle borates every
day have experienced no adverse health effects. Second, they’re versatile. In some applications, there is simply no substitute for borates. In other products and processes, their natural functions impart a wide range of performance, cost, environmental health and safety advantages. Metabolising Effects – In certain organisms, borates can inhibit metabolic processes. This makes them useful in controlling insects, bacteria and fungi in everything from
construction timbers to cosmetics. Bleaching Effects – Another key chemical effect comes into play in laundry detergents and other cleaning products, where borates are important components in bleaching and stain removal. Buffering Effects – The chemical properties of borates serve to balance acidity and alkalinity in many applications. Detergents, fireworks and film processing solutions all rely
on borates for a stable pH. Dispersing Effects – Borates are able to bond with other particles to keep different ingredients dispersed evenly and are used to control viscosity in paints, adhesives and
cosmetics. Vitrifying Effects – Borates modify the structure of glass to make it resistant to heat or chemical attack. In the same way, they facilitate the production of ultra-thin LCD screens,
functional fiberglass and beautiful ceramic tiles and glazes. Inhibiting Effects – Borates interact with surfaces containing iron to form a coating which protects the metal from corrosion. They are important additives in products as diverse as antifreeze and aerosol cans. Flame-Proofing Effects – Combined with zinc, borates are used to retard flames and suppress smoke in polymers. Borates also act as a flame retardant in cellulose insulation. Neutron-Absorbing Effects – Borates absorb neutrons in applications ranging from nuclear containment shields to treatments for cancer. |
