Boron Oxide

Boron Oxide (B₂O₃) goes by many names, including Boron trioxide, diboron trioxide, Boria, and Boric Oxide.   It is a colorless, hygroscopic, amorphous solid.  The amorphous form is the most common.  The alpha and beta crystalline structures are only formed at extreme, elevated pressures.  It is used in a wide variety of glasses and glazes, particularly borosilicate glass. Borosilicate glasses have a low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent chemical resistance, making them ideal for kitchen ovenware and lab glassware.

Beyond its conventional use in borosilicate glasses, Boron Oxide (B₂O₃) has been increasingly incorporated into alternative glass systems to impart functional properties for advanced technological applications. For example, TeO₂–Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃ glass systems have attracted considerable interest as non-linear optical materials due to their favorable optical characteristics. In addition, Boron Oxide B₂O₃-containing bioactive glasses have demonstrated significant potential for biomedical applications. A representative bioactive glass composed of Na₂O, K₂O, MgO, CaO, SrO, B₂O₃, SiO₂, and P₂O₅ exhibited low cytotoxicity and promoted apatite formation under physiological conditions, indicating excellent bioactivity and suitability for bone tissue engineering applications.

References

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