Borax major utilization : Glass and porcelain industries are the major consumers of borax and boric acid.
It is an essential component of heat-resisting borosilicate glass, glass fibres and industrial & optical glass. In glass, enamels and ceramics, it controls thermal expansion, improves durability, assists melting processes and adds to inorganic colours and decorations.
Borax is used in medicine (boric powder), leather processing, adhesive, corrosion inhibition, ferrous wire manufacture, flame-proofing and timber preservation.
Borax is used as a flux in brazing, welding, soldering and in the manufacture of artificial gems like, cubic boron nitride, (commercially called 'Borazon') which equals diamond in hardness and boron carbide, titanium boride and tungsten boride which are next to diamond in hardness.
Its easy solubility and property to soften hard water find applications in soaps, cleaners & detergents and for water treatment. Because of its mild alkalinity and germicidal nature, it is used in manufacturing toothpastes and mouth washes.
Borax is used as an antiseptic and emulsifying agent in cosmetics industry. As a decolourising agent, it is used in vanaspati industry. In textile industry, borax is used as a decolourising agent as well as for maintaining the alkalinity of solutions used for producing rayons. It prevents mould formation in citrus fruits.
In agriculture, borax is used as an essential plant nutrient.
Boron compounds are used for fertilizers, algicides, herbicides and insecticides.
Borax and boric acid are used in fire-retardant treatment.
Borax also used as food grain preservative, respectively.
Borate ester is used as dehydrating agent, special solvent and catalyst in chemical industry. In nuclear reactor, boron acts as neutron absorber. "Boron neutron capture therapy", a form of radiochemotherapy, is becoming increasingly important for treatment of certain forms of cancers and boron neutron capture synovectomy for treatment of arthritis.
Borates are consumed mainly in glass fibre for insulations and textile-grade fibre. They are also used as anti-knock agents in gasoline. Diborane (gas), pentaborane (liquid) and decaborane (solid) are potential jet and rocket engine fuels. Boron hydride also has potential value as rocket fuel. The high energy fuel value imparted by the addition of boron compounds has given considerable strategic significance to borates. Another use of borates is the invention of oxgano-sodium borate (liquibor) for use in hydraulic brake fluids.
