+8615628782329
sales001@bosschemical.com
English
Views: 0 Author: Y Publish Time: 2026-10-16 Origin: Site
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is a versatile inorganic borate compound with a wide variety of applications including wood preservation, agricultural micronutrient fertilizers, flame-retardant formulations, construction materials, and a variety of industrial chemical applications. It is a key raw material for manufacturers seeking reliable boron-based solutions, due to its high boron content, water solubility and multi-functionality.
In view of the increasing interest in effective protection of wood, concentrated boron fertilizers and functional additives, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate remains of interest for chemical manufacturers, agricultural suppliers, construction companies and industrial formulators.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is an inorganic borate salt containing sodium, boron, oxygen, and water of crystallization. It is commonly abbreviated as DOT and is also known as sodium octaborate tetrahydrate.
The compound is generally supplied as a white crystalline powder or granular solid. Because it provides a concentrated source of water-soluble boron, it is used in agricultural formulations and industrial applications, particularly wood preservatives and certain flame-retardant systems.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate has the CAS number 12280-03-4. Its chemical formula is commonly written as Na₂B₈O₁₃·4H₂O.
Property | Description |
Product name | Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate |
Abbreviation | DOT |
CAS number | 12280-03-4 |
Molecular formula | Na₂B₈O₁₃·4H₂O |
Molecular weight | Approximately 412.52 g/mol |
Appearance | White powder or crystalline solid |
Chemical category | Inorganic borate salt |
Main functional component | Boron |
Water solubility | Soluble in water; exact solubility depends on temperature and grade |
Main applications | Wood preservation, boron fertilizers, flame-retardant formulations, industrial additives |
Understanding the properties of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate helps manufacturers determine whether it is suitable for a particular formulation or production process.
A major advantage of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is the concentration of boron content. The commercial fertilizer and industrial grade specifications generally list elemental boron content between 20-21%. However, the actual value is dependent on the product composition and specification.
Boron is a necessary micronutrient for plant growth. The chemistry of borates is also important in some industrial uses of wood preservatives and flame-retardant systems.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate dissolves in water, making it useful for preparing aqueous solutions and formulated products.
It is especially important for its solubility in:
Water Soluble Fertilizers of Boron
Foliage Nutrient Formulations
Fertigation products
WOOD PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT SOLUTIONS
Some water-based industrial preparations
The actual performance of dissolution depends upon temperature, water quality, concentration, particle characteristics and other ingredients.
Commercial disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is generally available as a white powder or granular material. The appearance and particle properties are consistent so manufacturers can rely on the mixing, handling and dissolution performance.
The compound is useful in those areas where borate chemistry provides a useful function. Depending on the formulation, this may be biological protection of wood, boron nutrition of crops or flame retardant performance of compatible materials.
Note that disodium octaborate tetrahydrate does not perform the same in every application. The outcome depends on the concentration, method of application, substrate and formulation design.
Main applications of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate:
Wood Preservation and Protection Against Wood Destroying Organisms.
Micronutrient fertilizers for agriculture.
Flame-retardant treatments for compatible materials.
Construction materials and cellulose insulation.
Paints, coatings, adhesives, and selected industrial formulations.
Specialized chemical products requiring a soluble boron source.
These applications are documented in chemical safety and regulatory references, including the European Chemicals Agency-related background information on disodium octaborate and Canadian government guidance on borate wood preservatives.
Wood preservation is one of the most established applications of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate.
Wood can be damaged by decay fungi, termites, and other wood-boring insects. Borate-based preservatives are used to help protect susceptible wood products when the treatment is appropriate for the intended service environment.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is water-soluble, allowing it to be incorporated into treatment solutions that penetrate wood under suitable processing conditions.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate may be used in preservative formulations for:
Structural timber
Interior framing lumber
Wooden building components
Furniture and joinery materials
Wood-based composite products
Selected wood-foam composite structural components
The exact applications permitted depend on the product registration, treatment process, wood species, target organism, and local regulations.
If the borate treatment is correct, the borate active ingredient is taken up by the wood. Under proper conditions it can assist in protecting treated material against susceptible fungi and insects destructive to wood.
Industrial treatment may involve diffusion, surface application, or pressure impregnation, depending on the wood product and the preservative system.
A typical industrial process includes:
Preparation of a borate treatment solution.
Loading and conditioning of the wood.
Application of the treatment using an approved process.
Control of chemical uptake and retention.
Drying or conditioning, where required.
Quality inspection and documentation.
The treatment must achieve the retention and penetration requirements established for the intended use.
Borates are water soluble. Wood treated with borates can lose the preservative if exposed to free water for long periods of time or leached repeatedly.
The Canadian government states that borate-treated wood is generally suitable for applications that are protected from continuous free-water exposure and that are not in contact with the ground.
Therefore, the choice of preservative and treatment process is critical to long term performance.
Another important application of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is the production of boron-containing fertilizers.
Boron is needed by plants in small amounts for normal growth. It is involved in cell wall formation, reproductive development, pollen function, and other physiological processes.
Adverse effects on flowering, fruit development, growing points and crop quality can result from deficiency of boron. When properly formulated in fertilizer mixes, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate can serve as a concentrated source of soluble boron.
Possible applications are:
Boron water-soluble fertilizers
Liquid micronutrients concentrated
Foliar nutrient contents.
Fertigation products”
Boron enriched compound fertilizers
Multi-micronutrient fertilizer blends
Specialty Nutrients for Horticulture and Field Crops
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate can be included in fertilizer products to deliver boron to plants through soil application, foliar application or irrigation, if the product label and formulation are appropriate for the intended mode of delivery.
A fertilizer manufacturer can include disodium octaborate tetrahydrate as a source of boron in a water soluble micronutrient mixture.
A typical development process involves:
Defining the target elemental boron concentration.
Selecting a suitable grade of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate.
Evaluating dissolution in the intended water system.
Checking compatibility with other nutrients and additives.
Testing solution stability and storage performance.
Establishing application directions and quality-control specifications.
Boron has a relatively narrow range between deficiency and excess for many crops. Fertilizer dosage should therefore be based on crop requirements, soil or tissue testing, irrigation-water quality, and local agronomic recommendations.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is also used in certain flame-retardant formulations.
The contribution of borate compounds to improvements of fire performance can be achieved by mechanisms which may involve thermal decomposition, formation of protective residues and changes in the behavior of combustible materials. It is contingent upon the material and the formula how does it work and how well.
Potential uses include treatments for:
Cellulose insulation
Paper and paper-based products
Selected textile materials
Wood-based composites
Certain construction materials
Compatible industrial formulations
In cellulose-based materials, borate additives may be used to help reduce flammability and support the required fire-performance characteristics.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate should not be assumed to make a material fireproof when used alone.
Flame-retardant performance depends on factors such as:
Borate concentration and distribution
Substrate composition
Treatment method
Moisture exposure
Thermal conditions
Applicable fire-testing standards
Manufacturers should test the finished material against the relevant fire-performance requirements rather than relying solely on the presence of a borate ingredient.
The construction industry uses borate compounds in selected building-material formulations.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate may be incorporated into systems involving cellulose insulation, wood-based construction products, and other compatible materials.
Potential functions include contributing to biological protection and supporting fire-performance objectives, depending on the specific formulation and regulatory approval.
Cellulose Insulations
Construction composites selected
Wooden building elements
Special formulations of building material
Some industrial insulation materials
For insulation producers, important criteria for evaluation include the distribution of the additive, moisture sensitivity, compatibility with the production process and performance in relevant fire and bio-resistance tests.
Disodium octaborate and related borate materials are also registered or reported for certain industrial applications, including paints, coatings, adhesives and construction products.
In these formulations the material may be used as a functional (boron-containing) ingredient rather than as a primary film forming component.
Its adequacy depends on:
Compatibility with binder system
Water content and pH
Solubility and dispersion demands
Interaction with other additives
Storage stability
Final coating or adhesive performance
The entire system should be tested by formulators to find a suitable grade.
It is mainly used in wood preservation, boron micronutrient fertilizers, some flame retardant systems, construction materials and certain industrial formulations.
“Yeah. Boron source in selected fertilizer products, including water soluble micronutrient formulations. Excess boron can damage crops, so application rates must follow product label and agronomic recommendations.
It can be used in registered borate-based wood-preservative products to protect suitable wood materials against susceptible fungi and wood-destroying insects. Performance depends on treatment conditions and the service environment.
It may be used as an ingredient in some flame retardant treatments and formulations. The final material shall be tested for compliance with the applicable fire-performance requirements.
Both are sodium borate compounds , but have different chemical compositions , hydration states and boron contents . Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is often selected where a concentrated, soluble source of boron is needed. They should not be interchanged without checking formulation requirements.
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is a significant inorganic borate compound that finds use in wood preservation, agriculture, flame retardant formulations, construction materials, and in certain industrial chemical systems.
