Boric acid (hydrogen borate, boracic acid, orthoboric acid, acidum boricum, BH3O3, H3BO3, or B(OH)3 are its other identifiers) is a weak acid that may be found as a colorless crystal or a white powder. Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem ensures boric acid is part of its inventory because of its wide-ranging uses. Read below for a few uses of this important chemical. 

Glass Manufacturing

The glass industry relies heavily on boric acid to create several varieties of glass. First developed in the latter portion of the 19th century, borates gained notoriety in its positive impact on glass, which escalated in 1915 with the production of Pyrex, a borosilicate glass product. In the late 20th century the normally clear boric acid glass was infused with color. 

When added to a silica base, boric acid creates a much stronger product that withstands the stresses of thermal expansion, lowers the melting temperature and viscosity of glass, and inhibits devitrification (crystallization) of glass. It also creates more transparent and brighter glass, resists moisture more readily, and acts as a remarkable flux in the glassmaking process.

Boric acid is used for specialty glass (optical, laboratory, and technical glass) and borosilicate tubes; display glass, textile and insulation fiberglass, lightbulbs, LCD television screens and microfiber glass. Borosilicate glass has even traveled in space as insulation tiles on the space shuttles!

Healthcare Products

Boric acid is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial chemical commonly used for minor skin abrasions or burns. It also is used to curb acne breakouts, conjunctivitis, yeast infections, and athlete’s foot. Many eye care products, such as eye drops and saline solution, contain boric acid.

Textiles

Boric acid as a flux (soldering compound) prevents oxygenation when used in metallurgy. This unwanted oxygenation, known as fire scale, is repelled with a coating of 60% boric acid and 40% denatured alcohol. When combined with water, boric acid acts as a flow flux. 

In the tanning industry, the four steps in converting hides to leather are liming and hair removal, deliming, pickling, and tanning. The second step, deliming, utilizes boric acid and buffering salts to remove the lime traces from the initial step and lower the pH for the succeeding steps. 

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including boric acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.