Homepage

Borates as additives in brick production: increasing efficiency and quality

The addition of borates to the clay body during the manufacture of bricks or roof tiles offers numerous advantages. Thanks to their fluxing effect, borates can lower the firing temperature in the kiln, which not only saves energy but also increases production capacity. In addition, they improve the strength of the fired product, ensure more intense colouring through the formation of a glaze and make the bricks more resistant to weathering.

Protection against efflorescence and spalling with borates

A common problem with certain types of brick clay is efflorescence and spalling. These are caused by the migration of soluble sulphates to the surface during drying or subsequent exposure to the weather. The result is unwanted white spots and encrustations that impair the appearance of the bricks. The addition of borates inhibits this sulphate migration and effectively prevents the formation of such aesthetic defects.

Easy application with aqueous borate suspensions

Aqueous borate suspensions are particularly suitable for practical implementation. These can be easily mixed into the clay body and enable even distribution of the additive. This ensures efficient processing – ideal for modern production processes in contract filling and brick manufacturing.

Do you have any questions or would you like a customised solution for your application?
Talk to us – we look forward to hearing from you!

CONTACT

Liquid borates – the better alternative to powder

At Semfill, we specialise in the production of tailor-made liquid borates that can be used in a wide range of applications. While borate powders often need to be dissolved in water before use, liquid borates offer decisive advantages: they can be precisely dosed, easily pumped and evenly distributed. They also prevent dust and clumping, which makes them much easier to handle and increases process reliability.

Customised solutions for your processes

Our liquid borates are designed to integrate seamlessly into your existing systems – whether they are aqueous or amine-based solutions or suspensions with varying pH values, from boric acid to sodium metaborate. We tailor our products precisely to your requirements – for maximum efficiency and optimal results.

Would you like to learn more about our liquid borates or receive a customised quote? Then get in touch with us now – we will be happy to advise you personally!

CONTACT

Efficient nutrient release through boron coating

The targeted coating of nutrients, such as those found in NPK fertilisers, is a crucial step towards increasing efficiency in agriculture. Coating with boron allows the release of nutrients to be controlled and improves their availability in the soil. The result: a more targeted supply to plants and lower losses due to leaching.

Semfill-Aquebor SC 150 as a reliable adhesive

Semfill-Aquebor SC 150 is ideal as an adhesive for boron coating. It creates the ideal conditions for coating nutrients with a stable boron layer and controlling their effect in a targeted manner. This technology has proven particularly effective in granulated fertilisers, enabling uniform nutrient release and minimising losses. Thanks to its high-quality properties, coating with Aquebor SC 150 is an effective tool for sustainable agriculture.

Would you like to learn more about coating solutions with Semfill-Aquebor SC 150 or receive a customised quote? Then get in touch with us now – we will be happy to advise you!

CONTACT

Nitrogen losses due to urease – an underestimated problem

Urea is the most commonly used nitrogen fertiliser worldwide. However, the presence of the enzyme urease in the soil can cause a significant proportion of the nitrogen to be lost as ammonia gas. Urease catalyses the hydrolysis of urea into unstable carbamic acid, which rapidly decomposes into ammonia and carbon dioxide and escapes into the atmosphere. For economic and ecological reasons, it is therefore crucial to minimise these losses and improve nitrogen availability for plants.

Borates as urease inhibitors in urea production

Borates are not only valuable trace elements, but also act as urease inhibitors, significantly reducing nitrogen volatilisation. They are usually added as a powder to liquid urea before spray crystallisation. However, a liquid borate suspension with micronised particles offers more flexibility: it can be introduced at various stages of production – during crystallisation, before spray crystallisation or as a boron coating afterwards. This form enables uniform distribution and efficient integration into existing processes.

Are you looking for a solution to reduce nitrogen losses in urea production? Contact us – we will develop the right borate solution for your application.

CONTACT

Starch adhesives in paper processing

Starch-based adhesives are used in a variety of ways in the paper industry – for example, in corrugated cardboard, paper bags, wallpaper paste and bookbinding. The carbohydrates used usually come from plant sources such as corn, rice, wheat or potatoes. Although they are environmentally friendly as natural polymers, their stickiness and viscosity in their raw form are too low to serve as effective adhesives.

Borates improve the adhesive properties of starch

In combination with caustic soda, borates can significantly improve the properties of cooked starch – in particular by increasing viscosity, stickiness and cohesion. Borate powders such as borax or sodium metaborate are commonly used for this purpose. However, these have disadvantages: dust formation, clumping and an additional dissolution process in the starch solution. Liquid borate formulations – as aqueous or amine-based suspensions – offer an alternative. They are easy to dose, dust-free and can be easily integrated into existing processes.

Would you like to make your starch adhesives more efficient and reliable?

Contact us – we will be happy to advise you on suitable borate solutions for your application.

CONTACT

Borates as wood preservatives against fungi, insects and fire

Borates play a central role in protecting wood and wood-based materials against fungal attack, insects and fire. Impregnation is carried out using various methods such as dipping, immersion, brushing, spraying or vacuum and pressure systems. The wood is treated with a borate solution to make it more resistant in the long term.

Liquid borates as a dust-free alternative to powders

Very fine sodium borate powders that dissolve well in water are often used for these applications. However, they are often dusty, cohesive and difficult to handle. The use of liquid borates eliminates these problems: they are easy to pump and dose, distribute evenly in water and dissolve faster and more efficiently than powders. They offer a clean and reliable solution, especially in immersion and vacuum systems.

Would you like to optimise your wood preservation processes and switch to liquid borates?

CONTACT

Borates in detergents and cleaning agents

Borates are used in the manufacture of liquid detergents and industrial cleaners to improve stain removal and bleaching. Their function as stabilisers for enzymes such as proteases, amylases and lipases, which are contained in modern detergents, is particularly important. In addition, borates contribute to pH buffering, the prevention of colour transfer and the control of bacterial growth.

Liquid borates as an alternative to poorly soluble powders

Boric acid, sodium tetraborate and sodium metaborate in powder form are usually used for these applications. However, these are poorly soluble, tend to clump and cause dust, which makes dosing and processing difficult. Semfill also offers these borates in liquid form – as a suspension or solution that is easy to dose and process. They can also be combined with other ingredients such as sorbitol or mannitol, which are also used in detergents.

Would you like to optimise your formulations and switch to liquid borates?

Contact us – we will be happy to advise you on tailor-made solutions for your application.

CONTACT