People in construction, electronics, paint manufacturing, and other technical fields know Zinc Borate 2335 as a specialized chemical trusted for its flame-retardant properties. It shows up in powders, flakes, and sometimes pearls, each with a slightly different touch and handling experience. Sometimes, it gets delivered in a solid, sometimes as a more granular powder. The main thing that sets Zinc Borate 2335 apart is its chemical backbone: the formula 2ZnO·3B2O3·3.5H2O. That puts zinc, boron, and just enough water front and center through its structure. On a basic level, this raw material brings together the physical sturdiness from zinc with the heat-resistant boost that borate compounds deliver.
Zinc Borate 2335 delivers a moderate density, with a value around 2.67 g/cm3. You’re not holding onto a featherweight, but it doesn't get cumbersome during blending or mixing. In my experience, handling this material means keeping an eye on its form–it often clings together in slightly sticky powder at humid temperatures, while under dry warehouse lights, it feels more like a smooth flake that settles quickly to the bottom of a beaker. Unlike some crystalline salts, this material carries a white, slightly grainy look, easy to spot in a blend but not so stark that it throws off the color balance in paints or coatings. Some call it odorless, but there’s always that subtle mineral note in the air near an open bag.
Chemically, the water molecules in the structure—the 3.5 hydrates—matter just as much as the zinc and borate. When heated, those molecules work behind the scenes to fight flames in plastics or rubber, releasing water vapor as temperatures rise and throttling the risk of burning. Now, people throw it into PVC, polyolefins, or even epoxy resins, using it to keep materials from catching fire or breaking down. You worry less about the shape—flake, pearl, solid—but more about how evenly it mixes and whether it leaves clumps in a process line.
For companies importing or exporting, Zinc Borate 2335 ties into customs paperwork with an HS Code often listed under 2840.19. It helps sort it among borates and peroxoborates, and folks at customs desks use this number to catch regulatory needs or restrictions. Deliveries show up in 25kg or 50lb bags, sometimes in drums or bulk sacks, but all workers agree: keep it dry to prevent caking or lumpy material.
Most people want the facts on safety. Zinc Borate 2335 carries a label as not acutely hazardous, but there’s a real need for gloves and dust masks. Even with standard ventilation, nobody volunteers to stand over an open hopper while powder is poured in. If inhaled over the long haul, borates and zinc compounds stress out the lungs or irritate skin. Spilled powder clings to shoes and sleeves, so sweeping up needs care and patience. Storage goes best in cool, dry corners, far from acids or bases, since it plays poorly with strong chemicals.
People deal with Zinc Borate 2335 mostly as a free-flowing powder, but forms have shifted over time. Flakes appeal to folks who want slower mixing, less dust in their workspace. Crystals, rare as they are in industry, find a home in smaller specialty labs. Pearls, with their rounded touch, work better in automated feeders. Nobody talks much about true liquid Zinc Borate 2335: it doesn’t dissolve in water but slurries into thick suspension when mixed aggressively. Some try blending it in solution with other dispersants, but a lumpy mix suggests more stirring. Each form changes how quickly you can blend, dose, and clean up afterward.
Rubber conveyor belts, electrical wires, carpet backing, even thick paint for steel beams—a short list of where Zinc Borate 2335 ends up. Its flame-retardant boost turns basic polymers into options for safer public spaces or improved insulation, slashing risk of fire. In paint or varnish, it works alongside antimony and alumina trihydrate, bringing a triple-team approach to safety. Construction-grade plastics count on it, especially where code or insurance calls for proven flame resistance. It doesn’t corrode most metals or break down synthetic resins, another reason engineers lean toward this raw material.
Zinc Borate 2335 helps many industries push for stronger, safer, longer-lasting materials, but every bag comes with responsibility. Better dust extraction on filling lines, more training for handlers, and tighter records on chemical movement cut down risk. Factories that build good habits—gloves, closed transfer systems, targeted air extraction—avoid most accidental exposure. I’ve seen solid communication keep new hires aware of long-term risks, even if the safety sheets call it “not harmful.” It takes commitment from management to keep air clear and floors swept. Companies who invest there protect both workers and their own bottom line, avoiding product recalls or workplace claims.
Molecularly, Zinc Borate 2335 stands out due to the mix of zinc and borate with its 3.5 molecules of water. The balance means it stays stable at room temperature, doesn’t release fumes, and won’t break down without real heat. For technical buyers, density and particle size stay top of mind—too fine, and it floats everywhere; too coarse, and it won’t blend. Whether it rolls off a scoop as a dense flake or pours as a fine, silky powder, that weight matters for formulation. Companies that take the time to match form with process needs pick up both safety gains and better quality in finished products, showing attention to both science and practical day-to-day handling.