Industrial applications of boron compounds

Abstract

An inverse proportionality exists between industrial production and scientific interest in boron compounds. Despite the vast amount of research which has been done both academically and industrially, the four simple substances borax, boric acid, calcium borate and sodium perborate account for 99 per cent of the industrial applications in tonnage (production being over two million tons annually) and monetary terms. Several other metal borates, fluoborates and refractory compounds (including alloys) are used at the thousands of tons level, but the academically fascinating boron hydrides, carboranes and related materials, research on which accounts for 99 per cent of publications in boron chemistry during the past few decades, are used hardly at all. © 1974, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.