ABSTRACT
One of the many commercial applications of borates is fire retardancy. Boron compounds such as boric acid and borax are well known fire retardants for wood/cellulosic products and coatings. However, the use of zinc borates, ammonium pentaborate, melamine borate, boron phosphate, boron nitride, and others in polymers has become prominent only since the mid-1990s. In recent years, there has been a tremendous surge in literature and patent publications on boron-based flame retardants. This chapter will review recent development of boron-based flame retardants that have commercial and technical importance. In particular, synergistic/beneficial interaction between boron and metal hydroxide, boron and nitrogen, boron and phosphorus, boron and carbon, and boron and silicon in fire test performances will be discussed.
