Dehydration, water vapor adsorption and desorption behavior of Zn[B3O3(OH)5] · H2O and Zn[B3O4(OH)3]

Abstract

The dehydration behaviors of two different hydrated zinc borate species, Zn[B3O3(OH)5] · H2O and Zn[B3O4(OH)3], which are industrially important flame retardants, were studied by thermal gravimetric(TG) analysis and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. Dehydration onset temperatures of Zn[B3O3(OH)5] · H2O and Zn[B3O4(OH)3] were 129 and 320°C, respectively, at a 10°C/min ramp rate. A very small amount of boric acid was volatilized in addition to water vapor when both samples were heated at 250°C. A significant amount of water vapor was adsorbed by Zn[B3O3(OH)5] · H2O from air at 25°C. However, Zn[B3O4(OH)3] adsorbed a very small amount of water under the same conditions. Both zinc borates did not have a tendency to cake during storage.