The art of enameling began to take form in the early Byzantine era, but borax was not used in the frits applied to metals until the middle of the 18th century. The early borate-containing frits were colored ground glass used almost entirely for decorative purposes, and then in small quantities.
Borates offer significant benefits across numerous global industries, enabling safe, effective, innovative uses of sustainable materials.
Do you know how many items of your clothing were manufactured or shipped using borates?
Gypsum, unlike cement, is a physical structure rather than a chemical structure. The needle-like gypsum crystals form a network to give the board its physical integrity.
Few engineering challenges are as tricky as those that were met during the construction of the Channel Tunnel between England and France. Fortunately, the properties of borosilicate glass provided a solution to one of the most important issues: Lighting.
Boric oxide is widely used in fiberglass formulations because it has remarkable and relevant glass-forming, fluxing, and viscosity-lowering properties. Learn why manufacturers use boric oxide in insulation fiberglass.
Borates are essential in glassmaking for increasing thermal shock resistance, durability, and appearance of finished products. The development of borosilicate glass has had long history.
Ceramics are one of the oldest human technologies—and one that has seen ongoing innovation over the centuries. We work with the global ceramics industry to maximize the benefits imparted by borates.
Vitreous enameling—the fusing of a thin layer of glass to a metal base—is virtually impossible to achieve on large areas unless the glass has a high (up to 25%) boric oxide content. Learn how manufacturers are rediscovering the versatility of this virtuous process.
Legendary comedian and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno gets behind the wheel of a 240-ton haul truck at U.S. Borax’s mining operation in the January 25 episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” which airs Thursdays on CNBC.