Ever hear the adage, "What you put in is what you get out?" The same holds true for procuring raw materials used in manufacturing formulations.
By sourcing high-quality, consistent inputs—such as borates—from a reliable partner, you can keep processes in-spec and release products that satisfy customers.
The high cost of poor quality and inconsistency
Depending on your industry, refined borates can either be a cornerstone component or a small performance-enhancing additive that packs powerful benefits such as better energy efficiency.
Even if borates are a fraction of your formulation, choosing a low-quality, unrefined product puts you at higher risk for out-of-specification manufacturing. And, while their price might be attractive, unrefined borates commonly have:
- Uneven granulometry
- Contaminants (calcium, arsenic)
- Poor solubility
- Inconsistent batches
Variation in batches can cause severe problems, from failed safety tests to product recalls to lasting equipment damage. That takes money from your bottom line and wastes precious time.
A closer look at variation
Let’s look at a few industry examples where an inconsistent batch of product delivers negative results.
Glassmaking
Producing glass depends on a homogenized mix of raw materials during glass melting. The particle sizes of materials must be consistent. If particles are too fine or too coarse, then materials will settle at different depths causing heating imbalances and poor-quality product.
Read more about borates in glass
Polymers
If borates contain impurities, that can have detrimental effects during polymer processing. Burning, discoloration, and equipment damage are common issues.
Consistent particle size distribution is also critical for accurate dosing of the polymer formulation during processing.
See more on borates in polymers
Metallurgy
Having a consistent, proper borate concentration is crucial to metal recovery processes. For example, if boron levels are insufficient in the copper recovery process, serious scaling and more slag can occur. As a result, equipment needs more frequent maintenance, and less copper is recovered.
Learn more about borates in metallurgy
Proven consistency in every batch
When it comes to sourcing consistent raw materials, assurance and trust is key.
For U.S. Borax, assurance starts with mining a highly pure ore at our Boron operations. Once mined, the ore undergoes a detailed six-step refinement process. Our onsite quality lab performs purity tests and quality data analysis which includes titration testing to ensure our product has the right specifications and delivers a consistent level of borates.
We also employ additional quality control practices such as in-process sampling that helps reduce variation in particle sizes.
We understand you have unique specifications you must meet. That’s why many of our products come in a range of particle sizes, including specialty grade powders designed to meet even the most regulated industries’ requirements.
We can provide a certificate of analysis for every product batch we sell—giving you the assurance you need that your refined borates meet your specifications.
More than consistent products
Controlling inconsistencies and impurities is the responsibility of a supplier. If your supplier doesn’t have a stringent quality management system, then you’ll receive batches of product with varying specifications.
U.S. Borax is not only a supplier of consistent, high-quality refined borate products. We’re also a reliable partner when it comes to fulfilment and supply chain considerations.
Dependable logistics
A global network of warehouses and shipping points allows us to deliver refined borates efficiently. When you place an order, we can address your unique packaging and shipping needs for dependable performance.
Exemplary supplier track record
From robust product traceability to detailed support documentation and accredited operation standards (ISO, GMP), we can provide everything you need for your supplier evaluation and selection process.
Thorough technical support
A primary benefit of having U.S. Borax as a partner is the access to technical experts. Our team has deep experience in several industries, which can help ensure borates perform well under different process conditions.
And for customers with atypical specifications needs, our technical marketing team may be able to customize products in response.
If you’re considering refined borates for your process, we encourage you to explore our products. Then, when you’re ready, request a sample or contact our technical team.
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