BORIC ACID

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
CAS NO. 10043-35-3, 11113-50-1 (Base)
13813-79-1 (orthoboric acid)
13460-50-9, 13780-71-7 (metaboric acid)

BORIC ACID
EINECS NO. 233-139-2, 234-343-4 (Base)
237-478-7 (orthoboric acid)
236-659-8, 237-432-6 (metaboric acid)
FORMULA H3BO3 or B2O3·3H2O
MOL WT. 61.83

H.S. CODE

 2810.00
TOXICITY Oral rat LD50: 2660 mg/kg
SYNONYMS Boracic Acid, Hydrogen Borate, Orthoboric Acid;
Boracic acid; Hydrogen orthoborate; Trihydroxyborane; Borsäure (German); ácido bórico (Spanish); Acide borique (French);
DERIVATION  

CLASSIFICATION

 

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL STATE white cystals
MELTING POINT

170 C
BOILING POINT 300 C
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 1.43 - 1.44
SOLUBILITY IN WATER 4 - 5 g/100 ml at 20 C
pH 5.2 (1% sol.) 
VAPOR DENSITY  

AUTOIGNITION

 

NFPA RATINGS

 Health: 2; Flammability: 0; Reactivity: 0

REFRACTIVE INDEX

 
FLASH POINT  
STABILITY Stable under ordinary conditions. Hygroscopic.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATIONS
Boric acid refers to 3 compounds; orthoboric acid (also called boracic acid, H3BO3 or B2O3·3H2O), metaboric acid (HBO2 or B2O3·H2O), and tetraboric acid (also called pyroboric, H4B4O7 or B2O3·H2O). Orthoboric acid dehydrates to form metaboric acid and tetraboric acid above 170 C and 300C respectively. Orthoboric acid is derived from boric oxide in the form of white, triclinic crystals. It is poorly soluble in cold water but  dissolves readily in hot water, in alcohol and glycerine. Metaboric acid is a white, cubic crystalls. It is soluble in water slightly. Tetraboric acid is a white solid soluble in water. When tetraboric and metaboric acid are dissolved, it reverts to orthoboric acid. The main uses of boric acid is to make borate salts such as borax and other boron compounds. Boric acid is also used in heat resistant glass, in fireproofing fabrics, in electroplating baths, in leather manufacturing, porcelain enamels and in hardening steels. Boric acid has antiseptic and antiviral activity. Aqueous solutions have been used as mouth-washes, eye-drops, skin lotions and cosmetics. Boric acid and its salts are components of many commercial insecticides and wood preservatives.
SALES SPECIFICATION

APPEARANCE

white cystals
BH3O3

99.0% min
PHOSPHATES

0.001% max

SULFATES

0.005% max
INSOLUBLES 0.005% (in methanol)

Ca

50ppm max

Cl

10ppm max

As

1ppm max

HEAVY METALS (as Pb)

10ppm max

TRANSPORTATION
PACKING 25kgs in bag
HAZARD CLASS  
UN NO.  
OTHER INFORMATION
Hazard Symbols: T, Risk Phrases: 60, Safety Phrases: 53-45

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF BORON AND ITS COMPOUNDS
Boron is a nonmetallic element, group III in the periodic table. Symbol B; aomic number 5; atomic mass 10.811; melting point ca 2,300 C; sublimation point ca 2,550 C;  specific gravity 2.37 or 2.34; valence +3; electronic config. [He]2s22p1. There are two allotropes of boron; amorphous boron is a dark brown to black amorphous powder, but metal-like crystalline solid is an extremely hard (9.3 on Mohs' scale), black to silver-gray, brittle, lustrous and has a bad conductor in room temperatures. The specific gravities of amorphous and crystalline forms are 2.37 and 2.34 respectively. The crystalline form is far less reactive than the amorphous form. The amorphous powder is oxidized slowly in air at room temperature and ignites spontaneously at high temperatures to form an oxide but the crystalline form is oxidized only very slowly, even at higher temperatures. Boron is widely distributed in the form of borates but is never found in the elemental form in nature. The important commercial borate products are borax penta (or deca) hydrate, boron oxide, sodium perborate, boric acid and minerals are borax, colemanite, ulexite, tincal, kermite, and brines as well as ascharite, hydroboracite, datolite, tourmaline, etc. The simple way to prepare boron of amorphous powder form is the reduction of boron trioxide by heating with magnesium. Boric acid is produced mainly from borate ores containing sodium or calcium by the reaction with sulfuric acid in the presence of a hot aqueous boric acid liquor to recycle.

Major end uses for borates include;

  • FIBERGLASS AND GLASS : Boron fibers probide very high tensile strength and can be added to plastics to make a material that is stronger than steel yet lighter than aluminum. Boron is used primarily in fiberglass and boronsilicate glass which is the strong heat-resistant glass that contains a minimum of 5 percent boric oxide. The resistance to heat and chemical is attributable to the boric oxide which replace for sodium oxide in the structure of the glass, creating low thermal expansion. Replace for sodium oxide, Boric Oxide is a powerful base offering a high quality of heat and chemical resistance. Boric compouds are important components in optical glass industry to reduce thermal and mechanical shocks but to increase chemical resistance and durability.
  • CERAMICS : Boric compounds reduce significantly the melting point and can be used as an essential ingredient for the production of ceramic frits and borosilicate glazes. Boric compounds are used to control the coefficient of expansion to ensure that the glaze remains fixed with the body without crazing or distortion.
  • AGRICULTURE AND FERTILIZER: Boron is an essential micronutrient for plant growth. Boron fertilizers mixed with other compounds or NPK fertilizers are useful boron-deficient soils.
  • FLAME RETARDANT : Boron is an effective chemical flame retardant for an ample array of products. It is also used for wood, plywood, textile products, cotton, paper and cellulose.
  • CORROSION INHIBITOR : Different boric composition can be used as Corrosion Inhibitors and anti-freeze (mixed with Ethylene Glycol in automobile motor cooling systems), as well as in brewing, heat treating, hydraulic fluids, and treatment of metallic products.
  • WOOD PRESERVATIVES and PESTICIDES : Borates and Boric Acid are very effective in controlling and eliminating insects and fungi. Though they are not harmful to mammals, they are toxic against cockroaches, ants, scarabs, larvae, and other insects, resulting in manipulation at any location and environment.
  • METALLURGY : Boron is used as a sealing for non-ferrous metals and used as a deoxidizer and degasifier in metallurgy. Because it absorbs neutrons. It is used in the production of steel. Traces of Ferro boron in boric steel increase its strength. Bron eliminates impurities metallurgist systems, resulting in highly pure material to be used in electrical conductors especially.
  • PHARMACEUTICALS AND COSMETICS : Boric Acid is recognized for its application as a pH buffer and as a moderate antiseptic agent and emulsifier. It is a component of ointments, mouth-washes, eye-drops, bath salts, creams and shampoos. It can be used for skin cooking sensation due to good thermal conductivity. It is also known boron compounds made with all 10B isotope selectively destroy cancer cell.
  • NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS : Boron is used in the shielding material,  in neutron detection and in some control rods of nuclear reactors as it absorbs neutrons.