Sodium Borate

Chemical Appearance

• Form: Sodium borate typically appears as a white, crystalline powder or as colorless crystals.
• Texture: It has a granular or powdery texture.
• Odor: This compound is generally odorless.
• Solubility: Sodium borate is soluble in water, with its solubility increasing with temperature. It forms a slightly alkaline solution when dissolved.

Application

• Cleaning Products: Borax is a common ingredient in various cleaning products, including laundry detergents, household cleaners, and hand soaps due to its grease-cutting and whitening properties.
• Glass and Ceramics Manufacturing: In the manufacture of glass and ceramics, sodium borate is used to reduce the melting point of the raw materials and to improve the durability and heat resistance of the final product.
• Borax Solution as a Preservative: A solution of sodium borate can be used as a preservative and antifungal agent, particularly in wood treatment and as a part of some paints.
• Pest Control: It is sometimes used as an insecticide, particularly against ants, cockroaches, and fleas, due to its toxic effects on these pests.
• Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Sodium borate is used in some cosmetic and personal care products as an emulsifier, buffer, and preservative.
• Medical and Laboratory Applications: In medicine, it’s been used in eye washes and mild antiseptics. In laboratories, borax is used in buffer solutions and as a reagent in chemical analysis.
• Agriculture: Sodium borate is used as a micronutrient fertilizer to correct boron-deficient soils.
• Flux in Metallurgy: It serves as a flux in metallurgy, particularly in soldering and welding, to clean metal surfaces.
• Fire Retardant: Due to its thermal and chemical stability, it is used in fire retardant formulations.
• Slime and Putty: In more recreational uses, borax is a popular ingredient in homemade slime and putty for its viscoelastic properties.

Specification

Content/%: ≥99.5
Carbonate (CO₃²⁻)/%: Pass
Clarity Test: Pass
Calcium and Magnesium (as Ca)/%: ≤0.005
Hydrochloric Acid Insoluble Matter/%: ≤0.003
Iron (Fe)/%: ≤0.0001
Chloride (Cl)/%: ≤0.0005