Optibor and boric acid grades
Technical and industrial boric acid products for glass, ceramics, flame retardancy, adhesives, metallurgy, nuclear, corrosion inhibition and specialty formulations.
Manufacturer overview
U.S. Borax, part of Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto's borates business is commonly known in the market as U.S. Borax. The company supplies refined borates from its Boron, California operation and supports global customers through industrial, agricultural and technical borate product lines.
For Lowe Chemical customers, this page is designed to help capture product-name searches, CAS-number searches, SDS and TDS requests, application searches and industry-specific borate sourcing needs.
Boric acid
Sodium borates
Boric oxide
Zinc borate
Agricultural boron
Technical documentation
Fast quote checklist
- Product name or CAS number
- Grade, specification or application
- Package size and annual volume
- Ship-to city, state and delivery timing
- SDS, TDS, COA or regulatory needs
Product categories
Rio Tinto / U.S. Borax product families
Use these categories to narrow the right borate chemistry for your formulation, process or purchasing request.
Neobor, Dehybor and borax
Sodium tetraborate and hydrated borate products used as boric oxide sources, fluxes, buffers, water softeners, cross-linkers and process aids.
Boric oxide products
High boron-content materials for borosilicate glass, specialty glass, ceramic frits, enamels and sodium-sensitive formulations.
Granubor, Fertibor and Solubor
Boron micronutrient products for dry fertilizer blends, soluble crop nutrition, foliar programs and soil-applied agriculture.
Firebrake zinc borate
Zinc borate flame retardant and smoke suppressant technology for polymers, coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers.
Potassium and sodium borates
Specialty borate salts for industrial formulations, metalworking, water treatment, corrosion control and technical applications.
Product finder
Rio Tinto product finder table
CAS numbers and specifications can vary by grade, region and regulatory document. Confirm the exact product and grade against the current SDS, TDS and certificate of analysis before purchasing.
| Product name | Common chemistry / family | CAS number where applicable | Specifications / grade notes | Common applications | Documentation targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optibor | Boric acid / orthoboric acid | 10043-35-3 | Industrial, technical and high-purity boric acid grades; typical formula H3BO3. | Borosilicate glass, fiberglass, ceramics, flame retardancy, adhesives, metallurgy, corrosion inhibition. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet, COA |
| Boric Acid | Boric acid | 10043-35-3 | White crystalline solid; grade and particle size depend on product line. | Glass, ceramics, detergents, metalworking, nuclear, industrial formulations. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet |
| Neobor | Borax pentahydrate / sodium borate | 12179-04-3; TSCA often listed as 1330-43-4 | Concentrated sodium borate, commonly supplied as white crystalline granules or powder. | Glass, fiberglass, ceramics, detergents, antifreeze, water treatment, metalworking fluids, adhesives. | SDS, TDS, product data sheet |
| Dehybor | Anhydrous borax / sodium tetraborate | 1330-43-4 | Fused anhydrous sodium borate; useful where lower water content and rapid melting are important. | Borosilicate glass, enamels, glazes, ceramic frits, specialty glass. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet |
| Borax Decahydrate | Sodium tetraborate decahydrate | 1303-96-4 | White crystalline powder or granular form; multifunctional source of boric oxide and sodium. | Cleaners, detergents, glass, ceramics, water treatment, buffer systems, industrial processing. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet |
| Boric Oxide | Boron oxide / diboron trioxide | 1303-86-2 | High boron-content oxide product for sodium-sensitive glass and ceramic systems. | Borosilicate glass, specialty glass, frits, enamels, ceramics. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet |
| Firebrake | Zinc borate flame retardant | 1332-07-6 or grade-specific | Grade-specific zinc borate flame retardant and smoke suppressant. | Polymers, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, wire and cable compounds. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet |
| Solubor | Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate | 12280-03-4 | Fine, soluble boron product for agriculture and industrial applications. | Foliar nutrition, soluble fertilizer, micronutrient blends, specialty boron delivery. | SDS, agricultural spec sheet, TDS |
| Granubor | Granular boron fertilizer | Grade-specific | Granular boron product designed for dry fertilizer blending and soil application. | Bulk fertilizer blends, crop nutrition, agriculture distribution. | SDS, specification sheet, regulatory documents |
| Fertibor | Boron fertilizer / sodium borate | Grade-specific | Agricultural boron product for crop nutrition programs. | Fertilizer manufacturing, micronutrient blends, soil-applied boron. | SDS, agricultural specification sheet |
| Tim-bor | Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate | 12280-03-4 | Wood protection and biocide-oriented borate product; regulatory status may vary by use. | Wood protection, building products, preservation systems. | SDS, label, technical literature |
| Potassium Pentaborate / Potassium Tetraborate | Potassium borates | Grade-specific | Specialty potassium borate salts for technical formulations. | Industrial processing, metalworking, buffering, specialty chemical blends. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet |
| Sodium Metaborate / Sodium Pentaborate | Sodium borates | Grade-specific | Specialty sodium borate salts with grade-specific hydration and assay. | Water treatment, corrosion control, detergents, industrial formulations. | SDS, TDS, specification sheet |
Note: CAS numbers above are provided for search and preliminary identification. Always confirm the current CAS, grade designation, regulatory status, assay, particle size, packaging and safety classification using the manufacturer SDS/TDS and the lot-specific COA.
SDS / TDS resources
Documentation support for Rio Tinto borates
Lowe Chemical can help customers request current documentation by product, grade, country format and end use.
SDS requests
Request current safety data sheets by product name, language and regional format.
TDS requests
Request technical data sheets for composition, performance, handling and application guidance.
Specifications
Confirm assay, boron content, particle size, moisture, bulk density and packaging where available.
Regulatory support
Ask for COA, food/feed/agriculture documents, country-specific SDS and other available support files.
Applications
Applications that drive Rio Tinto borate demand
Borates are used when formulators need fluxing, buffering, cross-linking, corrosion inhibition, flame retardancy, micronutrient delivery, thermal shock resistance or boric oxide contribution.
- Borosilicate glass
- Fiberglass insulation
- Ceramic glazes
- Enamels and frits
- Detergents and cleaners
- Water treatment
- Metalworking fluids
- Corrosion inhibition
- Adhesives and starches
- Flame retardancy
- Wood protection
- Crop nutrition
Industries served
Industrial markets for Rio Tinto / U.S. Borax products
Glass and fiberglass
Boric acid, borax, Dehybor and Neobor support melt behavior, thermal expansion control, durability and fiberizing performance.
Ceramics and enamels
Borates act as fluxes and network formers in glazes, frits and enamels where surface quality and thermal fit are important.
Agriculture
Boron micronutrient products support fertilizer blends, foliar solutions and crop nutrition programs.
Detergents and cleaners
Sodium borates can support buffering, water softening, soil removal and formulation stability.
Polymers and building products
Zinc borate and other borates can support flame retardancy, smoke suppression and wood protection needs.
Metalworking and water treatment
Borates may support corrosion inhibition, buffering and specialty industrial treatment formulations.
Alternatives and related products
Related products Lowe Chemical can help compare
When Rio Tinto / U.S. Borax availability, grade, particle size or chemistry does not match the application, Lowe Chemical can help evaluate related borate and inorganic alternatives.
Request pricing
Request a Rio Tinto / U.S. Borax quote
Send the product name, CAS number, grade, volume, packaging and destination. Lowe Chemical will help review availability, documentation and quote options.
- Pricing for spot, recurring or annual demand
- SDS, TDS, specification and COA routing
- Package-size and logistics support
- Alternative chemistry review when needed
Quote form
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FAQs
Rio Tinto / U.S. Borax supplier FAQs
Is U.S. Borax part of Rio Tinto?
Yes. U.S. Borax is part of Rio Tinto and is the market-facing borates business associated with Rio Tinto's refined borate products.
What is the official business name?
Product documentation may reference U.S. Borax Inc., Rio Tinto Minerals or regional Rio Tinto borates entities. For vendor setup or contracts, confirm the exact legal name from the current quote, SDS, invoice or W-9.
Can Lowe Chemical quote Optibor boric acid?
Yes. Provide the grade, annual usage, package size and destination so Lowe Chemical can review pricing and documentation options.
What is Neobor used for?
Neobor is commonly used in glass, fiberglass, ceramics, detergents, water treatment, metalworking fluids, antifreeze and adhesive applications.
What is Dehybor used for?
Dehybor is an anhydrous borax product used where lower water content, rapid melting and boric oxide contribution are useful, especially in glass, glazes and enamels.
Can you help with CAS number searches?
Yes. Lowe Chemical can help search by product name, synonym, CAS number, chemistry family or application, then confirm the exact grade through current documents.
Can you provide SDS and TDS documents?
Lowe Chemical can help route current SDS, TDS, specification sheets, certificates and regulatory documents when available for the requested product and region.
What should I include in a quote request?
Include product name, CAS number if known, grade, quantity, package size, delivery location, timing and any SDS, TDS, specification or regulatory needs.
Need Rio Tinto borates, documents or alternatives?
Send Lowe Chemical the product, CAS number, grade, application and volume. We will help connect the product need with pricing, documentation and sourcing options.