Polymers, plastics, and composite materials are virtually everywhere in building construction. From wiring and plumbing fixtures to wall panels, siding, roofing, and decking, polymers provide versatile and durable construction materials.
Recent building fires have renewed attention on fire safety in modern construction. See how borate flame retardants improve fire performance in wood products used across residential and commercial buildings.
Facing high costs with antimony oxide? Discover how
Firebrake ZB reduces reliance on ATO while delivering superior fire retardancy.
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.
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.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is increasingly viewed as a viable, sustainable alternative to steel and concrete in construction. U.S. Borax is helping researchers improve CLT’s resistance to fire, moisture, and insect damage to meet international building codes.