Brief History of Boron

Borates for Woodworm and Dry Rot eradication

Compounds of Boron, chemically known as Borates, have been mined since the 1800s and have been used to control insect pests for over 100 years.

Boron was discovered in the USA in the late 1800's and first mined by Francis M 'Borax' Smith in 1872 as the crystalline material 'tincal', which contains about 50% borate.

Purified and sold throughout the world in vast quantities as Tim-bor Professional, it poses a low risk to the environment, especially when compared with other current pesticides, particularly because of its lower toxicity to fish. Now backed by more than 100 years of research and development, it is manufactured in the USA by Rio Tinto Borax, based in Valencia, California.

By the 1940s Borate formulations were being used to protect wood. Because they are water soluble, Borates diffuse into wood using the wood's own moisture (even 'air dry' timber has a moisture content of 12-15%) and they protect against woodworm, Death Watch beetle, House Longhorn beetle, Termites, Carpenter ants and fungi, including Dry rot.

For well over 60 years Borates have been in successful use in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Borates are used in dusting, foaming, spraying, brushing and pressure treatment applications. Other major uses include: glass production, detergent preparations, enamel and ceramic glazes.

TECHNICAL DATA

Active Substance - Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (Na2B8O13 4H2O)

Boric Acid Equivalent = 23.8% active

For Pre-Treatment - supplied under BBA Certificate No. 93/2893.

Supplied as:

- a white powder, to dissolve in water - Boron Ultra 12 - at 5%, 10% or 12%

- a solution of powder in water - Boron Ultra 12 - at 5% or 10%

- a clear gel, ready to apply to surfaces - Boron Ultra Gel - at 5% or 20%

- an opaque stiff paste, ready to inject - Boron Ultra Paste - at 5% or 40%

- solid fused sticks, for placement in holes inside wood - Boron Ultra Rods - at 153%

Special features

• Surface penetration
• Easy to apply by brush/spray
• Fungicide/Insecticide
• Odourless
• Non Flammable
• Very low acute toxicity
• No emulsifier chemicals
• Retards spread of flame
• Does not evaporate

Go Directly to the Boron Shop

BORON - Inorganic Borate Compounds

SINGLE CHEMICAL - TRIPLE ACTION

TIMBER & MASONRY TREATMENTS

Introduction

Borons are fungicidal and insecticidal treatments manufactured from Inorganic Compounds of the Element Boron. They prevent insect attack and eradicate Dry rot in timber, being mobile in dry timber. They allow the use of the ZERO CUTBACK OPTION - no sound timber need be removed beyond the physically damaged zone. They also provide permanent protection, as the active ingredient does not break down or evaporate.

WORLDWIDE USE

Over 50 years of successful use in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Used in dusting, foaming, spraying, brushing and pressure treatment applications. Other major uses include: glass production, detergent preparations, enamel and ceramic glazes.

PENETRATION

Even when applied in its most basic form, as a solution (up to 12.5% active) in water, Borates penetrate a minimum of 2-3 mm in 'DRY' timber and more, depending on the moisture content of the timber. In conjunction with Glycols, as gels and pastes (in concentrations of up to 50%) penetration increases dramatically. These more expensive products are designed for situations where deep seated decay requires high below-surface concentration of the active ingredient. This is not required, or desirable for normal Common furniture beetle spraying.

DURABILITY

Boron remains inert in the timber, providing protection long enough for Railtrack to have specified it for Railway Sleeper protection.

WOOD PRESERVATIVE AND BIOCIDE SAFETY

Use Wood Preservatives and Biocides safely. Always read the label and product information Data Sheet before use.

Wear the correct safety equipment and keep unprotected people and animals out of the treated area for the statutory period given on the label, or until surfaces are dry, which ever is the longer.

All products have some hazards and the COSHH Regulations (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) apply to ALL building repair and construction products that we sell, even Cement.

If in doubt consult us for free technical help. Take care not to contaminate soil, waterways or the environment with the product or the waste and packaging. These can be returned to us for disposal.

Avoid using any type of chemical in your home if any of the following are likely to come into contact with the spray or treated surfaces: animals, fish, birds, babies, young children, asthmatics, pregnant women or those vulnerable due to ill health.

On-going European reclassification of Pesticides has resulted in our Borax product having to carry a warning label (for the first time since 1890) on all products used at over 5.5% BAE concentration. This label is a warning that if you eat the product and then became pregnant you might give birth to a slightly underweight baby, or, if you are a male, suffer a slight reduction in the size of your testes. The tests, on rats, required them to eat the human equivalent of 18 level teaspoons full of Borate (DOT) per day for 2 years. We believe that you are unlikely to do this and the lack of any other negative evidence, despite the severe European Review process, suggests that this product is very safe indeed.

Woodworm treatment products do not need to even reach the 5% concentration level to be effective, so are not subject to any additional labelling, because of their unblemished safety record.

Specify BORON ULTRA TREATMENTS - the best in the world.

Contact: 01626 331351 or help@propertyrepairsystems.co.uk

'Boron' is a generic term (more correctly used for the Element Boron) applied to a range of Boron Compounds known as Borates and sold under the names D.O.T., Timbor, Tim Bor and Borax, all made by the company Rio Tinto Borax, of '20 Mule Team Train' fame.

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Property Repair Systems,

Unit 3, Olympus Business Park, Kingsteignton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2SN

T: 01626 331351 F: 01626 331143

E: help@propertyrepairsystems.co.uk

Other Property Repair Systems Sites:

www.boron.org.uk - how to use Boron based insecticides/fungicides to treat timber rots and insect attack

www.dampness-info.co.uk - how to treat penetrating dampness in walls and plaster

www.deck-treatment.co.uk - how to treat patio decks and yacht decks

www.dryrot.biz - how to cure and prevent Dry Rot

www.epoxy-info.co.uk - epoxies, polyesters and polyurethanes for all applications

www.joist-repair.co.uk - how to quickly repair joists and beams of any size

www.mold-info.co.uk - how to identify and treat moulds in buildings

www.timber.org.uk - systems of repair, with step by step methods

www.timber-repair.co.uk - how to repair timbers in buildings without wrecking the place

www.propertyrepairsystems.co.uk - fire paints, crack injection, metal fabrication, hygiene treatments