Boron compounds are among the most effective and versatile wood preservative systems available, offering broad-spectrum efficacy and low toxicity. Oxides of boron, the active ingredients in boron systems, are ubiquitous in the environment, essential to plant, and part of a healthy human diet.

Borates protect against various forms of wood destroying organisms, including decay fungi (wet and dry rot), wood boring beetles (including common furniture, house longhorn and powderpost beetles), carpenter ants, and termites (including Formosan termites). Products protected with borates run the gamut from construction lumber, railway sleepers and pallets, to log homes, furniture and flooring. Borates are used to protect living forests against fomes, and freshly harvested trees against sapstain.

Borates' unique physical and chemical properties render them effective for formulating stand-alone preservatives -- such as the highly soluble disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (available commercially as Tim-borŽ Industrial and Tim-borŽ Professional) and the sparingly soluble zinc borate (available commercially as BorogardŽ ZB and ComposiborŽ) - as well as compounds in combination with quaternary ammonium and copper azole systems. Borates also function as buffers, corrosion inhibitors and flame retardants, and are often used for these characteristics in addition to their preservative properties.