Last month, in part two, we took an in-depth look at the third class of wood preservatives: water-soluble salts. We examined the problems encountered whereby arsenic is the active ingredient in preservatives, such as chromated copper arsenic and the corrosion problems associated with the new breed of copper-based, water-soluble salt preservatives, such as ammonial copper quaternary, which use ammonia compounds as their active ingredient. This month, we'll discuss the fourth and last class of wood preservative treatments: water-soluble boron compounds.
Sodium borate-also known as SBX-preservative treatment uses boron compounds, such as borax or boric acid, as the active ingredient or "carrier." Toxic to termites, carpenter ants, mold and decay organisms, boron compounds have been used as a less toxic alternative insecticide for decades. Boron treatment provides more than a surface coating while remaining no more toxic to humans than borax (but don't ingest it). Spread in concealed spaces where cockroaches hide, boric acid gets on their many legs and they then track it back to the nest. There, it is spread to the rest of the colony acting as a very effective, low toxicity insecticide.