Borate - The "Unseen Investment "

Borates in chemistry are chemical compounds containing boron bonded to three oxygen atoms written as B(OR)3. In B(OR)4− anions, this number increases to four. The borate ion is BO33−. it forms salts with metallic elements. Boron found in nature is commonly found as a borate mineral. Boron is also combined with silicate to form complex borosilicate minerals such as the tourmalines.

Overview

Description and Formulations of Borates

Borate preservatives (Disodium Octoborate Tetrahydrate or DOT) are low toxicity alternatives for protecting timber and composites from wood destroying organisms such as decay fungi and termites. They have proven effective for more than 70 years in residential and commercial construction, and their efficacy is backed by extensive field testing.

Borates are naturally occurring minerals that exist in trace amounts in rock, soil, water and all living things. Consequently, they have marginal environmental impact. Borates are also essential for plants, nutritionally important for people and key ingredients in fiberglass, glass, ceramics, detergents and fertilizers.

Borates use as a wood preservative was first standardized by the American Wood-Preservers' Association (AWPA) in 1991. They are listed as Inorganic Boron and described by the abbreviation SBX.

Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (DOT) is specially formulated for use as a water-based wood preservative - delivering the highest concentration of boron (maximum water solubility and rate of dissolution) at a near-neutral pH. DOT (Na2B8O13 · 4H2O) is registered by EPA as well as government agencies throughout Asia, North America and Europe and offers the following distinct attributes:

• Effective fungicide/insecticide against a broad spectrum of pests
• No acquired resistance among target organisms
• Essential to plant life, nutritionally important to humans and environmentally ubiquitous
• Inorganic salt (nonvolatile, no off-gassing)
• Odorless, colorless and non-corrosive to hardware and building materials
• Not defined as a hazardous waste nor listed by RCRA, CERCLA, SARA, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act or Clean Air Act

Applications of Borates

DOT is listed in the AWPA Book of Standards for all Use Category 1 and Use Category 2 (UC1 and UC2) applications - where the treated wood is used above-ground and protected from weather, but may be subject to sources of moisture. Typical applications include: furnishings and interior construction, such as framing, sheathing, sill plates, furring strips, trusses, and joists.

EPA Report

We've included an EPA fact sheet on Borate in PDF; click here.

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