|
What is Bora-Care?
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.
What is a borate compound?
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.
What are glycol penetrants?
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.
How do borates affect
insect and fungus species?
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.
What wood destroying
organisms will Bora-Care control?
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
Is Bora-Care better
than soil treatments when controlling termites?
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.
How long will Bora-Care
stay in the wood?
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.
How toxic is Bora-Care
to humans or pets?
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. Read and follow all label instructions before use.
| 
