Boric acid cotton-batting

Boric acid (boracic acid H BO ) is used for the manufacture of glass, welding, mattress batting, cotton textiles, and a weak eyewash solution. 

Borates are widely used in fire retardant applications. For example, cellulose insulation products used in homes and cotton batting used in mattresses and other furnishings are typically treated with boric acid to inhibit smoldering combustion. Borates are also used as fire retardants or fire retardant synergists in plastics, rubber products, and paints, where specialized borates such as zinc borate may be used. 

Inorganic boron compounds are generally good fire retardants (59). Boric acid, alone or in mixtures with sodium borates, is particularly effective in reducing the flammability of cellulosic materials. Applications include treatment of wood products, cellulose insulation, and cotton batting used in mattresses (see Flame retardants). 

In 1973, the U.S. Department of Commerce promulgated Flammability Standard FF4-72. This Act requires all mattresses to pass a cigarette smoldering test. Boric acid (12-14 wt.% loading) in conjunction with a dust control agent (1 wt.% of paraffinic oil) is normally used in the cotton batting to pass the test. 

Although certain cellulose esters, such as the ammonium salt of phospho-rylated cotton and cellulose phosphate [9015-14-9], are flame-resistant, the attachment of most currently used durable polymeric flame retardants for cotton is through ether linkage to the cellulose at a relatively low degree of substitution (DS). Nondurable flame retardants based on liquid-or vapor-phase applications of boric acid [10043-35-3] or methyl borate [121-43-7] are used in treatment of cotton batting for upholstery, bedding, and automotive cushions (112-114). Cotton carpet materials will pass the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) federal flammability test for carpets (16 CFR1630) when cross-hnked with polycarboxylic acids such as 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid or citric acid with sodium phosphate, sodium hypophosphite, sodium bicarbonate, or sodium carbonate catalysis (115). 

Boric Acid [10043-35-3]. This powdered solid, sold by U.S. Borax and others, serves to prevent smoldering combustion of cotton batting (11), and is used in mattresses and furniture, where it is mixed in mechanically, its binding to the fibers aided by oil. Boric acid probably works by melting and coating the cellulose, although some vapor action is also likely. 

Boric acid (H3BO3) 70 4.7 Urethane foams, paper products, cotton batting and wood composite board... 

---