Emmanuel Laval

Fifty years ago, U.S. Borax introduced a multifunctional, zinc borate, flame retardant we called Firebrake. Learn how we improved the fire safety of essential materials that surround us every day.

U.S. Borax celebrates the exceptional career of Kelvin Shen. For 50 years, Kelvin has been the go-to expert for polymer manufacturers looking for the right fire-retardant additive—and insights to help them balance fire retardancy cost, efficacy, and compliance in their products.

Closed loop cooling systems are economical and reliable. However, they require proper water treatment to extend equipment life and prevent irreversible damage. Using high-quality borates in your water treatment solution can inhibit corrosion, control pH level, and maintain heat-transfer capabilities.

Borate caking is a nuisance for many industrial users, but it can be prevented by paying attention to the moisture and temperature conditions in storage areas and by avoiding compaction.

Polymer producers face a range of challenges as they strive to find a balance of safety, sustainability, and quality in their products. Firebrake products offer a multifunctional solution.s that our team members make every day.

Firebrake ZB provides multifunctional benefits in a wide variety of solvent-based and aqueous fire-retardant coatings, including epoxies, vinyl chlorides, acrylics, and urethanes coatings.

Firebrake 500 is an anhydrous zinc borate that’s designed to stand up to high-temperature polymer processes. Polymer manufactures gain multiple benefits from Firebrake flame retardants—supported by technical expertise from U.S. Borax.