[Jewelry making - Article 00076] - Re: [Orchid] Boric Acid vs. Borax

[jesse brennan]

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    The normal  form of boric acid is  the orthoboric form (H3BO3) which
    is hydrated boric oxide( B203) .  When ortho boric acid is heated
    slowly it loses water and becomes the metaboric form (HBO2). Borax is
    the sodium salt of boric acid   and is the primary natural ore.  It
    is not formed by heating boric acid . These materials are very
    hydroscopic and  the crystalline forms  have various amounts of
    water of crystallization.   They are all glass formers     which can
    act as a flux  to dissolve other oxides .    Metalurgical fluxes 
    are generally borates , silicates , and could include phosphates.  
    All are glass formers.  The more active flux mixtures  will usually
    contain  a fluoride   and or chloride salt.  The proprietary  fluxes
    are all  sort of "witches brew" mixtures .    They are not a single
    compound and there is no real "magic" right composition although
    some maybe better than others. 

    The main use  for these borates,silicates and phosphates is as
    cleaning agents   a their use as fluxes in  glass making and in
    metallurgy is relatively small in comparison . jesse


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