When it comes to particulate materials, particle size affects end-product quality and properties. U.S. Borax offers many of its products in powder grade. Our borate powders are produced using one of the following methods:

• Dust recovery: We efficiently collect the dust created when producing our granular products
• Screening: We separate the finer particles by sieving
• Milling: We use specialized equipment to break particles and reduce their size

APPLICATIONS

Agriculture

The higher solubility and better dispersion of borate powders is a key benefit in boron containing fertilizers. Borate powders such as Anhybor^® Fine have the ability to adhere to the surface of other fertilizers (eg, NPK blends) once mixed with it—providing a boron coating with the aid of a binder.

Grease lubricant and lubricating oil formulations

Borate powders are used for their higher dispersibility and surface area. When dispersed in a very finely divided state, potassium borates improve the load-carrying, anti-corrosion, and anti-wear properties of industrial and automotive gear lubricants. Under extreme conditions, potassium pentaborate and potassium tetraborate interact with metal load-bearing surfaces to form a film of extraordinary resilience. This tenacious film provides outstanding load-carrying capacity and wear protection, making the product an ideal fit in automotive lubricants. Optibor^® TP (technical powder) and boric oxide 200 mesh are also among borate powders used for automotive lubricating oils due to the requirement of having smaller particles and higher surface area for better lubrication.

Metalworking fluids

Optibor TP  or Optibor TP EF (extra fine) with finer granulometry provide better dispersion in the formulation, and higher surface area for lubrication effect.

Oil recovery fluids

When used as a cross-linking agent in oil recovery fluids, Dehybor Fine has higher and faster dissolution than the granular grade and provides a faster reaction with polymers that are utilized to increase the recovery of oil from subterranean formations.

Paints and intumescent coatings

Optibor TP provides benefit due to gloss and rheological requirements of the final product. In addition, boric oxide 200 mesh is used in stop–off paints used in the heat treatment and metals industries. The paints are often used in the automotive industry to coat metal engine parts.

Ceramics

In the manufacture of industrial boride ceramics including titanium diboride, zirconium diboride, boron carbide, and boron nitride, borate powders such as Optibor TP, Optibor TP EF, and boric oxide 200 mesh are highly preferred due to their higher reactivity, better diffusion, and therefore a more efficient boride synthesis process.

Pharmaceutical industry

Borate powders, including Optibor EP P, Optibor NF P, borax decahydrate EP P, and borax decahydrate NF P, can be used to provide better dispersion, solubility, and in some cases, meet the requirement for smaller particles when used as an excipient.

Nuclear shielding

Borates are essential in the safety and control of nuclear industry applications. Boric oxide 200 mesh is incorporated into neutron-shielding polyethylene boards used for radiation-absorption in nuclear power plants and medical radiation therapy.

Powder safety and handling

When thinking about powders and dusts, one common safety hazard is flammability and dust explosion. The good news is that powdered borates are non-volatile, non-flammable, and non-explosive. Dust explosion should not occur with borates since they do not react in the presence of oxygen. Borates even inhibit flaming combustion and act as smoke suppressant in case of fire or explosion. More information regarding health and safety measures while handling borates can be found in our safety data sheets.

Search Safety Data Sheets

Despite the numerous benefits of powder grade borates, powdered products are much more susceptible to compaction than granular products. Similar to household powders (eg, icing sugar), powders often form loose agglomerates quickly when stored. However, these agglomerates disintegrate under hand pressure and this compaction should not be mistaken for hard caking. Our technical support team can help identity whether this is a risk in your application.