Product Overview
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral compound, commonly supplied as sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na2B4O7 · 10H2O). It is a versatile alkaline ingredient valued for its buffering, cleaning, chelating, and water-softening properties, and it is widely used across household, industrial, cleaning, laundry, and formulation applications.
Its alkaline properties make it useful for helping regulate pH and enhance cleaning performance, while its ability to bind certain metal ions supports its use as a water-softening and chelating agent. It can also be used in a variety of industrial and formulation processes where a stable source of borate is required. Suitable for a range of household, commercial, and industrial applications, EZ Elements’ Borax provides consistent quality and dependable performance for customers across Canada.
Why It Is a Go-To Multipurpose Mineral
- Water softening and chelating: Borax helps bind certain hard water minerals and metal ions, improving the efficiency of soaps and detergents in a cleaning formulation.
- pH buffering: its alkaline character (pH 9.24 for a 1% aqueous solution) helps stabilize and adjust the pH of cleaning, laundry, and formulation systems.
- A trusted laundry booster: Borax is a long-standing addition to laundry routines, helping lift stains, support bleaching systems, and a popular ingredient in laundry stripping methods for removing residue buildup from fabric.
- A genuine metallurgical flux: Borax dissolves metal oxides and prevents oxidation during welding, brazing, and soldering, making it a standard flux powder for melting and joining metal.
- Broad formulation compatibility: Borax functions as a peptizing agent in starch-based adhesives, a stabilizer in refractories and specialty abrasives, and a crosslinking agent for waxes and paraffins in specific industrial formulation contexts.
Key Features & Benefits
- Naturally occurring mineral salt supplied as sodium tetraborate decahydrate, chemically stable under normal storage conditions.
- Water softening, pH buffering, and chelating properties support cleaning and formulation performance.
- Water soluble, with solubility increasing significantly at higher temperatures.
- Functions as a metallurgical flux, dissolving metal oxides and preventing oxidation in welding, brazing, and soldering.
- Compatible with a wide range of formulation and cleaning systems, from laundry detergents to refractory bonding agents.
Applications
Borax is used across a wide range of formulation categories served by EZ Elements.
Cleaning, Laundry and Household
- Laundry detergent boosters and laundry stripping methods, supporting stain removal and residue buildup removal
- Multipurpose household cleaners and mold-cleaning formulations
- Powdered hand soaps and industrial soap and detergent formulations, where it also functions as a gentle abrasive
- Household pest control formulations, including borax-based ant control products
- Craft and hobbyist slime-making formulations
- A metallurgical flux for welding, brazing, and soldering, dissolving metal oxides and preventing oxidation
- Corrosion inhibition in automotive and engine coolant and antifreeze formulations
- A peptizing agent in starch-based adhesives, and a stabilizer and bonding agent in refractories and specialty abrasives
- Neutralizing residual acid in wire drawing, and a flame retardant for cellulosic materials
Personal Care (Restricted Use Levels Apply)
Borax has historically been used as a crosslinking agent for waxes and paraffins in lotions, creams, and ointments, and alongside boric acid in some contact lens solution formulations. Cosmetic use of Borax is subject to strict regional concentration restrictions, and it is not permitted in products intended for infants or on injured or broken skin. Any personal care application must comply with applicable regional cosmetic regulations and should be reviewed with your regulatory team before formulation.
Technical Specifications
The following table presents the established general product specifications for Borax Decahydrate. These are product-level parameters and do not change from batch to batch within normal specification limits.
| Property | Specification |
| Chemical Name | Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (disodium tetraborate decahydrate) |
| Chemical Structure | Na2B4O7 · 10H2O |
| CAS No. | 1303-96-4 |
| Appearance | White, crystalline solid |
| Molecular Weight | 381.37 g/mol |
| Specific Gravity | 1.71 |
| Solubility in Water at 25 degrees C | Approximately 5.93% by weight (saturated solution); increases significantly with temperature |
| pH (1.0% aqueous solution) | 9.24 |
| Onset of Water Loss (enclosed space) | Approximately 62 degrees C (144 degrees F) — the decahydrate begins to lose water of crystallization at this temperature, well below the melting point of the anhydrous form |
| Melting Point (anhydrous form only) | 743 degrees C (1369 degrees F) applies to anhydrous sodium tetraborate, not to the decahydrate grade supplied here |
| Stability | Chemically stable under normal storage conditions. Has a slight water vapor pressure that increases with temperature; can lose water of crystallization in warm dry conditions and cake in humid conditions. Avoid wide fluctuations in temperature and humidity during storage. |
| Available Grades | EP Excipient Granular and Powder; EP GMP Granular and Powder; NF Granular and Powder; SP Granular and Powder; SQ Granular; MG Granular; Technical Granular |
| Packaging | Available in bulk, IBCs, and small bags |
Batch-Specific Analysis (Certificate of Analysis)
The table below presents selected parameters from an example Certificate of Analysis (COA). These figures are batch-specific and will vary between shipments within the product specification range. They are provided here for reference only. A current COA for the specific batch supplied to you is available from EZ Elements upon request and should be used for formulation and quality records rather than the example figures below.
| Parameter | General Specification | Batch Result |
| Appearance | White, crystalline solid | White, crystalline solid |
| B2O3 Content | 36.47% to 38.50% | 38.100% |
| Equivalent Na2B4O7 · 10H2O | 99.90% to 105.45% | 104.350% |
| Na2O Content | 16.24% to 17.14% | 17.030% |
| Sulphate (SO4) | 135,000 ppm max | 58,000 ppm |
| Chloride (Cl) | 70,000 ppm max | 19,000 ppm |
| Iron (Fe) | 10,000 ppm max | 2,000 ppm |
| Sieve (+) 1.180 mm | 4.000% max | 3.420% |
| Sieve (−) 0.063 mm | 4.000% max | 0.540% |
Why Choose EZ Elements as Your Supplier
EZ Elements supplies Borax with batch-level documentation and consistency, supporting cleaning, laundry, industrial, and formulation customers across Canada.
- Full documentation including Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Certificate of Analysis (COA), and Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Available in a range of package sizes, including IBCs and small bags
- Technical support to help you confirm the right grade and use level for your application
Safety and Regulatory Notes
Please review the full Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling or formulating with Borax. The points below summarize the key considerations.
- Borax carries a hazard classification for reproductive toxicity (may damage fertility; may damage the unborn child). Consult the full SDS and your occupational health and safety team before use.
- Avoid skin and eye contact. In case of eye contact, rinse immediately with water for several minutes and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
- Wear appropriate protective equipment, including gloves and eye protection, when handling.
- Store in a cool, dry place with stable temperature and humidity to avoid caking, away from incompatible materials.
- Cosmetic use of Borax is subject to regional concentration restrictions. It is not permitted in products intended for infants or on injured or broken skin. Verify compliance with Health Canada and all applicable regional regulations before any personal care use.
Complete handling, first aid, and disposal instructions are provided in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available from EZ Elements. Please review the full SDS before use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is pure Borax powder used for?
Borax is used as a laundry booster and stain remover, a multipurpose household cleaner, a metallurgical flux for welding, brazing, and soldering, and an ingredient in a wide range of industrial and formulation applications, from adhesives to refractories.
Q2: Does Borax dissolve in water?
Yes. Borax decahydrate is soluble in water. At room temperature (approximately 25 degrees C), a saturated solution contains approximately 5.93% borax by weight. Solubility increases significantly with temperature, from roughly 2% by weight near freezing to over 65% by weight near boiling, per the supplied Technical Data Sheet.
Q3: Can Borax be used as a flux for melting metal?
Yes. Borax is a well-established metallurgical flux, used to dissolve metal oxides and prevent oxidation during welding, brazing, and soldering.
Q4: Is Borax safe to handle?
Borax carries a hazard classification for reproductive toxicity and can cause eye irritation. It should be handled with appropriate protective equipment, including gloves and eye protection, and the full Safety Data Sheet should be reviewed before use. Follow all applicable occupational health and safety requirements for your workplace and jurisdiction.
Q5: Why does Borax sometimes cake or clump during storage?
Borax decahydrate has a slight water vapor pressure that increases with temperature. In a warm, dry environment it can lose water of crystallization and change form; in a humid environment it can absorb moisture and cake. Storing it in a cool, dry location with stable temperature and humidity, and keeping containers sealed, helps prevent this.
Q6: Where can I buy Borax in Canada?
Borax is available directly from EZ Elements in a range of package sizes, including IBCs and small bags, with supply options for cleaning, laundry, industrial, and formulation customers across Canada. Contact our team for current pricing, full documentation, and product availability.
Order or Enquire
Looking to buy Borax in Canada? Contact EZ Elements for current pricing, full product documentation, and available package sizes. We supply cleaning, laundry, industrial, and formulation customers across Canada.
