Sodium borate

Description

A white, water soluble powder. Sodium borate is found in nature as borax. Borax is produced by the evaporation of water in shallow lakes. The white powder is mined from deposits in India, Russia, Iran, and and the U.S. (California). Sodium borate is used as a flux, cleansing agent, tanning agent, fireproofing agent, and as an alkaline ingredient in glass, ceramics, and glazes. It is also used in the developing bath for color photographs. Sodium borates are used to kill cockroaches, and as an antifungal agent for wood. The slow acting material has also been used to clean and provide long-term inhibition of algae, lichen, and moss on monuments (Richardson 1973).

Synonyms and Related Terms

sodium pyroborate; borax; sodium tetraborate; disodium tetraborate; sodium biborate; tincar; tincal; Jaikin; Polybor

Chemical structure

Other Properties

Soluble in water, glycerol. Insoluble in ethanol.

Composition	Na2B4O7
CAS	1303-96-4
Melting Point	741
Density	2.367
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 201.22
Boiling Point	1575 (dec)

Hazards and Safety

Noncombustible. Toxic by inhalation and ingestion.

Hygroscopic. Skin contact causes irritation and burns.

LINK: International Chemical Safety Card

Additional Information

° B.A.Richardson "Control of Biological Growths", Stone Industries, 8(2):1-6, 1973.

Authority

• G.Caneva, M.P.Nugari, O.Salvadori, Biology in the Conservation of Works of Art, ICCROM, Rome, 1991

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 109

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 8733

• Susan E. Schur, Conservation Terminology: A review of Past & Current Nomenclature of Materials, Technology and Conservation, Spring (p.34-39); Summer (p.35-38); Fall (p.25-36), 1985

• Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Website address 1 Comment: photographic chemicals at www.jetcity.com/~mrjones/chemdesc.htm