Boron Products / Borax Decahydrate
Etibor-48. The most soluble borax. 50 g/L at 20°C. Instantly dissolving.
Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O — selected over pentahydrate wherever rapid, complete dissolution at ambient temperature is required: liquid detergent manufacturing, borate solution preparation for wood treatment diffusion, concentrated liquid fertilizer preparation, and jeweller's borax flux paste. Full specification with ICP-OES trace analysis per production batch.
Complete specification with comparison to pentahydrate
When to specify decahydrate versus pentahydrate
| Parameter | Test method | Decahydrate (Etibor-48) | Pentahydrate (Etibor-68) comparison | Industrial significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B₂O₃ content |
Calculated
|
36.5% | 47.8% | Lower B₂O₃ per MT — but fastest ambient-temperature dissolution makes it the correct choice for liquid systems |
| Water of crystallisation |
Loss on ignition
|
47.2% (10 moles H₂O) | 30.5% (5 moles) | Higher water content is the source of faster dissolution — the crystal structure releases water rapidly |
| Solubility at 20°C |
Gravimetric dissolution
|
~50 g/L | ~31 g/L |
CRITICAL for liquid systems: decahydrate dissolves 61% more rapidly at ambient temperature
|
| Solubility at 60°C |
Gravimetric dissolution
|
~200 g/L | ~250 g/L | At elevated temperature, pentahydrate becomes more soluble — but ambient dissolution strongly favours decahydrate |
| pH (1% solution) |
Potentiometric
|
~9.3 | ~9.2–9.4 | Slightly alkaline — buffers detergent and cleaning formulations to effective pH range |
| Na₂SO₄ max |
Ion chromatography
|
≤0.1% | ≤0.2% | Decahydrate typically purer in sulphate content — relevant in soap and detergent formulations |
| Bulk density |
ISO 3923 |
~800–900 kg/m³ | ~950–1,100 kg/m³ | Lower bulk density — less B₂O₃ per unit volume stored. FCL capacity slightly lower. |
| FCL capacity |
—
|
~18–20 MT per 20' FCL | ~22–24 MT per 20' FCL | Pentahydrate provides more boron per FCL freight cost — relevant for volume buyers |
Select decahydrate when
Ambient dissolution
Required — detergent slurry · Liquid boron concentrate · Borate solution preparation without heating
Cold-water flux
Jeweller's borax paste and brazing flux formulations requiring complete cold-water dissolution
50 g/L
Solubility at 20°C — highest of the two commercial borax grades at ambient temperature
Etibor-48
Eti Maden brand · 48% equivalent anhydrous borax content · Industry-standard specification
Specify volume, application, and destination. Quote within 4 hours.
For ambient-temperature dissolution applications. 25 kg bags or 1,000 kg FIBC. FOB Bandırma or CIF destination.
Borax decahydrate procurement