Boron

: This article is about the chemical element. See Boron, Territoire de Belfort for the commune of the Territoire de Belfort département in France. See Robert de Boron for the medieval poet.

Applications

The most economically important compounds of boron are:

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• sodium tetraborate pentahydrate Na₂B₄O₇ · 5H₂O, which is used in large amounts in making insulating fiberglass and sodium perborate bleach,
• orthoboric acid H₃BO₃ or boric acid, used in the production of textile fibreglass and flat panel displays or eye drops, among many uses, and
• sodium tetraborate decahydrate Na₂B₄O₇ · 10H₂O or borax, used in the production of adhesives, in anti-corrosion systems and many other uses.

Of the several hundred uses of boron compounds, one can cite the following ones:

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• Boron being an essential micro-nutrient, playing notably a role in plant ferilisation and in the building of cell wall structures, it is used in agriculture.
• Because of its distinctive green flame, amorphous boron is used in pyrotechnic flares.
• Boric acid is an important compound used in textile products.
• Boric acid is also traditionally used as an insecticide, notably against ants or cockroaches.
• Compounds of boron are used extensively in organic synthesis and in the manufacture of borosilicate and borophophosilicate glasses.
• Other compounds are used as wood preservatives, and are particularly attractive in this regard because they possess low toxicity.
• Boron-10 is used to assist control of nuclear reactors, a shield against radiation and in neutron detection.
• Boron filaments are high-strength, lightweight materials that are chiefly used for advanced aerospace structures.
• Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), is a popular chemical reducing agent, used (for example) for reducing aldehydes and ketones to alcohols.
• Boron in trace amounts is used as dopant for P-type semiconductors.

Boron compounds are being investigated for use in a broad range of applications, including as components in sugar-permeable membranes, carbohydrate sensors and bioconjugates. Medicinal applications being investigated include boron neutron capture therapy and drug delivery. Other boron compounds show promise in treating arthritis.

Related Topics:
Carbohydrate - Bioconjugate - Neutron capture - Drug - Arthritis

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Hydrides of boron are oxidized easily and liberate a considerable amount of energy. They have therefore been studied for use as possible rocket fuels.

Related Topics:
Hydrides of boron - Oxidized - Energy - Rocket fuel

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