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Here are some important
Q&A's concerning Bora-Care.
Q: What is Bora-Care?
A: Bora-Care is a patented liquid formulation to protect structural
wood from attacking wood destroying organisms. It contains disodium octaborate
tetrahydrate (also called DOT, a borate compound) as the active ingredient
and also contains glycol penetrants to help the active ingredient diffuse
into the wood.
Q: What is a borate
compound?
A: A borate compound contains the basic elements of boron and oxygen.
Borate ores are mined from mineral deposits found in the earth. These
mines can be found in western North America, South America and Asia. Borate
compounds help create products such as ceramic tiles, fertilizers, glass,
detergents, soaps, cosmetics, medicines and pest control products.
Q: What are glycol
penetrants?
A: Glycols are members of the class of compounds called alcohols.
They are used in paints, dyes, inks, cosmetics and coolants. The glycols
in Bora-Care allow more active ingredient to be dissolved into a true
liquid solution. These glycols also aid in the diffusion of Bora-Care
by drawing the borate active ingredient into the wood.
Q: How do borates
affect insect and fungus species?
A: Borates are toxic to both insects and fungus species. One mode
of action is that borates disrupts the enzyme system of the insect and
destroys the microflora (bacteria and protozoa) in the stomach of the
insect, thus disallowing food digestion. Borates also affect the enzyme
system of fungi and the active ingredient is a contact toxicant to fungus.
Q: What wood destroying
organisms will Bora-Care control?
A: Termites: Subterranean, Formosan, Drywood, Dampwood, Powder
and Post Beetles: Lyctidae and Bostrichidae species, Anobiid Beetles and
Old House Borers Carpenter Ants, Brown Rot, White Rot and Wood Decay Fungi.
Q: s Bora-Care
better than soil treatments when controlling termites?
A: Soil treatments try to block termites from coming up from the
soil. Even under the best circumstances, termites can still enter through
a break in the soil barrier and cause major damage to the wood in the
structure. Bora-Care controls infestations in another manner. Wood is
eliminated as a food source for termites with a Bora-Care application.
If termites can't eat the wood, the probability of damage in a structure
is minimized.
Q: How long will
Bora-Care stay in the wood?
A: Since Bora-Care is derived from minerals, once the active ingredient
diffuses into the wood it will remain indefinitely. There are no natural
forces that will degrade or break down the product inside the wood. Only
high levels of water saturated in the wood will enable the active ingredient
to be forced out. This saturated state is not normally found with interior
structural wood. It is generally recommended to seal exposed exterior
structural wood after application with Bora-Care to prevent the occurrence
of excessive moisture.
Q: How toxic is
Bora-Care to humans or pets?
A: The active ingredient in Bora-Care, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate,
is a borate salt compound that is formed from a union of boric acid and
borax. It has a very low toxic level to humans and pets, but is very effective
against insects and fungus.
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