Calcium Borate Research Articles

Fabrication and in vitro studies on bioactive borate glasses containing dopant chromium sulfate

This research aims to assess the bioactive properties of the modified borate glasses containing extremely low concentrations (≤5 mol.%) from chromium sulfate (Cr2(SO4)3). The glasses in the system xCr2(SO4)3.(60–x)B2O3.15CaO.15Na2O.10P2O5, where x = 0, 1, 2, and 5 mol.% were prepared by the melt quenching technique. All glass samples have been treated thermally at 600 °C for 6 h. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) measurements were carried out to differentiate between the structural changes before and after soaking in the simulated body fluid (SBF) at about 37 °C for 1, 2, and 3 weeks. Glass-ceramic samples have showed sharper peaks that are identified using X-ray diffraction data. These crystalline phases are indexed to crystalline calcium borate (Ca2B2O3) and calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2). In vitro tests, FTIR spectra revealed two small bands in the 560-610 cm−1 range which might be assigned to the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer (HA). The formation of HA was also confirmed by XRD results, particularly after immersion in SBF for 21 days. The study suggests that the presently studied glasses containing Cr2(SO4)3 can possess good bioactivity which might be considered to be suitable for some bio and medical applications.

Ulexite/HDPE-Bi2O3/HDPE layered composites for neutron and gamma radiation shielding

In this study, 5, 10, and 15 wt% ulexite (NaCaB5O6(ΟH)6·5H2O, hydrated sodium calcium borate hydroxide) and 15 wt %Bi2O3 filled high density polyethylene (HDPE) composite materials were fabricated through conventional melt-extrusion processing techniques in the form of a layered structure in order to absorb both neutron radiations and the secondary radiations resulting from neutron induced reactions. In the layered structure, HDPE was used to slow down neutrons, while ulexite and Bi2O3 were used to capture thermal neutrons and secondary gamma radiations, respectively. The properties of ulexite/HDPE and Bi2O3/HDPE composites were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties (tensile and hardness) of composite materials were also investigated. The results showed that the addition of ulexite and Bi2O3 particles does not change the thermal and mechanical properties of the HDPE composites significantly. Total macroscopic cross-section of the composites was determined using a 239Pu–Be (α,n) neutron source, while their linear and mass attenuation coefficients were determined using a137Cs gamma-ray source. The results show that ulexite filled HDPE composites enhance neutron shielding property and Bi2O3 filled HDPE composites provide good shielding performance for gamma rays.

Characterization and in vitro bioactivity analysis of apatite growth on modified calcium borate silicate ceramic

Bioactive glasses are considered biocompatible materials that form a hydroxyapatite-like layer on the surface that allows strong adhesion to soft and hard tissues. This study aims to develop a method to fabricate a borate silicate ceramic biomaterial with a chemical composition of Ca11Si4B2O22 using sodium metaborate (NaBO2) as a flux. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy energy distribution spectrometer (SEM-EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) were used to analyze the structure, surface composition and chemical bonding of the bioactive borate silicate. In addition, the pH measurements and biodegradability behavior of the fabricated glass structures were investigated after immersion in simulated body fluid for 2, 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. The results showed that the glass-ceramic structure, which was transferred from the crystalline phase Ca11Si4B2O22 to a hydroxyapatite phase after incubation, started on the second day. In addition, the formed hydroxyapatite crystals developed due to the prolonged immersion time, reflecting biodegradable behavior. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared ceramic showed high inhibitory activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans.

Compositional dependence of transparency, linear and non-linear optical parameters, and radiation shielding properties in lanthanum, iron and calcium borate glasses

In this paper, we synthesized a novel lanthanum, iron, and calcium borate glasses system by changing lanthanum oxide (La2O3)/boron oxide (B2O3) contents and investigated their structure, optical parameters, and radiation shielding characteristics. Optical absorbance and transmittance were measured, while the optical band gap values were obtained by investigating the fundamental absorption edges via Tauc's plot. Our analyses show that all glass samples show good transparency in the visible range; further, the transparency increases from 64% to 72.5% (at 600 nm) with increasing La2O3/B2O3 contents. Moreover, with increasing La2O3/B2O3 contents, the fourfold coordinated boron units (BO4) increase, the density increases, and the trigonal boron units (BO3) decrease. Furthermore, with increasing La2O3/B2O3 contents, the fundamental absorption edges shift toward higher wavelengths, and the optical band gaps decrease. Also, with increasing La2O3/B2O3 contents, the linear and non-linear refractive indices increase. These behaviors were justified by the decreased electronegativity and increased electronic polarizability values. On the other hand, the radiation shielding properties, such as the mass attenuation coefficient and half value layer, show enhanced behaviors with further La2O3 additions. The combination of enhanced radiation shielding properties and enhanced transparency makes the current glasses good candidates in the radiation shielding field.

Mechanism of dissolution reactivity and reactions of various calcium borate glasses and glass-ceramics

This study investigated the effect of calcium addition on boron coordination and ion release in deionized water (DIW) of five melt-quench-derived compositions: xCaO-(100-x)B2O3 (x=25, 27, 33, 38 and 48 mol%) and one sol-gel-derived 48CaO-52B2O3 glass. The mechanism of hydration and hydrolysis reactions was elaborated based on ionic release and structural change pre- and post- ageing in DIW. For melt-quench-derived glasses, within 8 h ageing, the hydration reactions were more rapid than the hydrolysis reactions, resulting in solution pH increase, where ionic release was more dependent on composition than boron coordination. At longer ageing times, hydration and hydrolysis reactions occurred simultaneously, leading to solution pH stabilization, and calcium and boron release decreased with an increase in the boron tetrahedral fraction (N4) in glasses. Non-bridging-oxygens in the melt-quench-derived 48CaO-52B2O3 glass-ceramic and hydroxyl groups in the equivalent sol-gel-derived glass fostered calcium and boron release. All glass formulations demonstrated higher N4 post DIW exposure.

Effect of Synthetic Nano-Calcium Borate as an Alternative Boron Fertilizer on the Growth and Boron Utilization of Sunflower Plant

ABSTRACT Boron (B) uptake by plants is not always related to the availability of B in the soil. Since B is not mobile in the phloem, conditions such as drought, irregular irrigation, high relative humidity and salinity adversely affect plant B uptake and transport. Thus, new strategies should be developed to improve the transport of B in plants. In this study, greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the effects of calcium borate nanoparticles (Nano-B) on the B and Ca concentrations of sunflower plants. Nano-B have been synthesized by a method via co-precipitation and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of Nano-B, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) and colemanite on growth and B uptake of sunflower plant grown in B-deficient acidic and alkaline soils were investigated in greenhouse conditions. Boron was applied at 5 mg kg−1 level. Total B and calcium concentrations were determined separately in young leaf, old leaf and stem. According to the results, there is no difference between B sources and control in terms of fresh and dry weight of the plants. However, all B sources increased the young and old leaf B concentrations of the plant compared to the control. Nano-B treatment was prominent in terms of B concentrations on the old leaves in alkaline soil and on stem in acidic soil. It has been concluded that Nano-B can be an alternative B source and it is necessary to test it in different plants under different growing conditions.

Material characteristics of WO3/Bi2O3 substitution on the thermal, structural, and electrical properties of lithium calcium borate glasses

Glasses belonging to the xWO3-(30-x) Bi2O3–15Li2O–15CaO–40B2O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 10) have been obtained by melt-quenching technique. With increasing the concentration of WO3, an increase in the measured glass transition temperature {T}_{mathrm{g}} and crystallization temperature {T}_{mathrm{c}} are observed, while the values of the thermal expansion coefficient decrease. Due to the unpaired pentavalent ions, the electron spin resonance spectra of glasses doped with {mathrm{WO}}_{3} them show unique signals. The results of Raman spectra show that the glass network is mainly constituted by [{mathrm{BiO}}_{6}], [{mathrm{BO}}_{3}], [{mathrm{BO}}_{4}], and [{mathrm{WO}}_{4}] basic structural units. The activation energies for all studied samples were observed to range from 0.02 to 0.08 eV, and the dielectric constant and the conductivities of the investigated glasses increased with increasing temperature. The electrical behavior of the prepared samples revealed their semiconducting character. The prepared samples are being investigated as potential semiconductor material candidates for use in electronic devices.

Computational Predictions of the Stability of Fluorinated Calcium Aluminate and Borate Salts

Energy storage concepts based on multivalent ions, such as calcium, have great potential to become next-generation batteries due to their low cost and comparable cell voltage and energy density to Li-ion batteries. However, the development of Ca batteries is still hindered by the lack of suitable materials that grant a long cycle life. Specific to electrolyte materials, developing a calcium salt that is chemically stable under ambient conditions and enables reversible electrodeposition of Ca is critical. In this work, we use first-principles calculations to study the intrinsic and reductive stability of twelve Ca salts with fluorinated aluminate and borate anions and analyze the decomposition products formed on the metal anode surface that are critical to early-stage solid electrolyte interphase formation. We found anions with significant steric hindrance and a high degree of fluorination are intrinsically less stable and deemed unviable designs for Ca salt. Aluminate salts are generally less reactive with the Ca anode than their borate counterparts, and a high degree of fluorination leads to weaker reductive stability. Calcium fluoride is the most prominent decomposition product on the anode surface, and carbide-like motifs were also found from the decomposition of the designed salts.

Effect of processing parameters on the morphology of hydrothermally synthesized calcium borate powders

AbstractThe present study aimed to examine the effect of pH and time on the final morphology of calcium borate powders. Primarily, aqueous solutions that mainly consisted of borax and calcium chloride were prepared with five different pH values varying between 2 and 15. Hydrothermal synthesis temperature was determined as 200°C, and four different times from 30 min to 24 h were selected. Phase formation and powder morphology were examined via an X‐ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to identify the type of borate groups. Results revealed that pH directly determines the growth mechanism of calcium borate crystals. Lower pH induced nonclassical growth by forming self‐assembled nano‐plates. Individual, rodlike particles were observed for alkali solution. At weak basic conditions, priceite (4CaO·5B2O3·7H2O) and alkali condition parasibirskite (2CaO·B2O3·H2O) phases were obtained.

Characterization of precipitates susceptible to clogging of sump filters after a Loss-of-Coolant-Accident in PWRs

During a Loss Of Coolant Accident involving a primary circuit failure in a nuclear power plant, debris, generated by the impact of the steam jet, is transported to the hot liquid phase formed at the bottom of the nuclear containment. Water is recirculated after passing through filters. Chemicals are released and may precipitate on the filters, increasing the pressure drop. This paper investigates the characterization of precipitate formation in a soda/borate buffer, due to the presence of calcium, silicon, and zinc, released from mineral fibers, concrete particles, or the corrosion of metal surfaces. Experiments run at various temperatures and chemical compositions are presented, with the objective of identifying the precipitates and determining the critical thresholds of concentration and temperature beyond which the risk of chemical clogging disappears. The experimental results are compared to those calculated with the CHESS software, intended to calculate the speciation at thermodynamic equilibrium. The results show the formation of amorphous precipitates: silica, calcium borates, borosilicates and zinc silicate. Precipitation is temperature dependent, with the highest masses obtained between 50 and 60 °C. The comparison of experimental and calculated results indicates a good overall consistency. This work demonstrates the importance of considering chemical clogging in this context.

Compositional dependence of thermophysical properties in binary alkaline earth borate melts: Insights from structure in short-range and intermediate-range order

• Thermal conductivity of alkaline earth borate melts is investigated systematically for the first time using transient hot-wire method. • Thermal diffusivity is extrapolated from thermal conductivity, heat capacity and melt density, providing a new approach to thermal diffusivity measurement. • Short-range and intermediate-range order of alkaline earth borate structure is studied using high-resolution MAS-NMR, Raman spectroscopy and XPS for a precise and comprehensive insight into structure-conductivity relationship. • Compositional dependence of thermal conductivity is revealed with the discussion on “boron anomaly” phenomenon in alkaline earth borate melts. In this work, the thermal conductivity of alkaline earth borate melts was measured using hot-wire method from 1323 to 1623 K, and the thermal diffusivity was extrapolated from the thermal conductivity and heat capacity. The compositional dependence of thermophysical properties was interpreted according to the structure in short-range and intermediate-range order. Based on the Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and 11 B magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectra, modifier cation with higher field strength prefers the formation of non-bridging oxygens (NBOs) for the charge compensation at high BO 1.5 / M O ratios. A lower amount of covalent bond and greater isolation of large borate groups lead to a lower thermal conductivity in calcium borate melt compared with strontium and barium borates. But the large size of Ba 2+ encounters difficulty in fitting around B [4] -O-B [4] linkages inside the overcrowded large borate groups when BO 1.5 /BaO = 2.5, promoting the formation of NBOs on the edge of borate groups for the charge compensation of modifier cations and leading to the decline in the thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity plays a major role in regulating the thermal diffusivity at a given temperature since the compositional dependence of volumetric heat capacity is relatively weak compared with that of thermal conductivity.

Ultrastrong MXene films via the synergy of intercalating small flakes and interfacial bridging

Titanium carbide MXene combines high mechanical and electrical properties and low infrared emissivity, making it of interest for flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and thermal camouflage film materials. Conventional wisdom holds that large MXene is the preferable building block to assemble high-performance films. However, the voids in the films comprising large MXene degrade their properties. Although traditional crosslinking strategies can diminish the voids, the electron transport between MXene flakes is usually disrupted by the insulating polymer bonding agents, reducing the electrical conductivity. Here we demonstrate a sequential densification strategy to synergistically remove the voids between MXene flakes while strengthening the interlayer electron transport. Small MXene flakes were first intercalated to fill the voids between multilayer large flakes, followed by interfacial bridging of calcium ions and borate ions to eliminate the remaining voids, including those between monolayer flakes. The obtained MXene films are compact and exhibit high tensile strength (739 MPa), Young’s modulus (72.4 GPa), electrical conductivity (10,336 S cm−1), and EMI shielding capacity (71,801 dB cm2 g−1), as well as excellent oxidation resistance and thermal camouflage performance. The presented strategy provides an avenue for the high-performance assembly of other two-dimensional flakes.

Pelletization and sintering of New Zealand titanomagnetite ironsand

Direct reduction (DR) of iron ore with hydrogen is a potential route for near-zero CO2 steelmaking, but vertical shaft DR reactors require that iron ore fines must first be pelletized. This study reports an investigation of the pelletization and subsequent sintering behaviour of titanomagnetite (TTM) ironsand, which is the main iron ore feedstock for New Zealand’s steel industry. Initially green pellets were bound with bentonite and carboxymethyl-cellulose (Peridur), using an average ironsand particle size of 65 µm. The compressive strength of these pellets after sintering at 1200 °C in air for 2 hr was measured to be 976 N, meeting the expected feedstock requirements for a shaft reactor. This strength was attributed to interparticle bonding arising from extensive recrystallisation of titanohematite grains from oxidation of TTM, as well as the formation of a liquid bonding phase due to melting and diffusion of the binders. Building on these results, alternative binders were then explored in order to lower the required sintering temperature. A combination of both organic and inorganic binders was found to deliver optimum performance, wherein carboxymethyl-cellulose based binders provided strength in the green pellets, whilst inorganic binders, such as calcium borate or ground glass, promoted high sintered strengths.

Structural and thermoluminescence properties of borate mineral ulexite

Natural ulexite (NaCaB5O6(OH)6.5H2O) mineral is an industrially important boron compound. In this work, the thermoluminescence (TL) properties in ulexite after beta irradiation and subsequent annealing were thoroughly investigated for radiation dosimetry. It has been determined by polarized x-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF) analysis that natural ulexite mineral contains 42.11% of B2O3, 17.93% of CaO, and 4.27% of Na2O in its structure. After the appropriate sintering at 800 °C for 8 h, calcium borate (CaB2O4) and ulexite phases were found in its structure using x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The CaB2O4 rich (CBR) powder samples were doped with different Cu concentrations of 0.01–7% wt, and the appropriate Cu concentration was determined as 1% wt considering the TL signal intensities. The TL glow curve of 1% wt Cu doped CBR sample exhibited five TL peaks at ∼74, 122, 169, 224, and 323 °C for a 2 °C/s heating rate. The activation energies of these peaks were evaluated as ∼0.80, 0.89, 1.08, 1.16, and 1.24 eV, respectively, and the frequency factors were found to be between ∼108 ‒ 1010 s−1. The phosphor showed a sublinear behavior with no saturation up to 100 Gy. Fading of the TL peak at 333 °C after β-ray irradiation (from 90Sr/90Y) and dark storage at room temperature (RT) was recorded as 5% at the end of the 4th week. Through this preliminary study, it can be proposed that ulexite might be a candidate for dosimetric applications if this natural material is further developed using different dopants and various methods.

Investigation of the Role of Calcium Borate in the Growth of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Particles

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) powder is a promising thermally conductive filler in resins and controlling its particle size is important. To obtain h-BN powder with a large particle size as well as high purity and crystallinity, high-temperature heat treatment over 1800 oC in N2 gas atmosphere is effective. Carbothermal reduction nitridation (CRN) involves carbothermic reduction of boric oxide in N2 gas atmosphere. In CRN using a CaO promoter, h-BN particles with large sizes can be produced through a simple heat-treatment process. During CRN, CaO forms calcium borate (CaO-B2O3), which prevents the vaporization of B2O3 and promotes h-BN particle growth at high temperatures. Up to now, the effect of CaO-B2O3 on the growth of h-BN particles during CRN is unclear. In this study, the role of CaO-B2O3 in the growth of h-BN particles during CRN was clarified via experimentation using various approaches. The results led to the ideal reaction process of CRN using a CaO promoter to produce large-particle-size h-BN powder.

Influence of lanthanide (Gd, Tb or Ce) and silver doping on the luminescence lifetimes of calcium borate investigated by pulsed optically stimulated luminescence

The objective of this work is to evaluate the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) lifetimes of different polycrystalline CaB6O10:Ln, Agx (Ln = Gd, Tb and Ce; x: % molar concentration) compounds. For the determination of the luminescence lifetimes, time-tagged time-resolved (TTTR) data of the OSL under pulsed stimulation were analyzed. In addition, OSL emission spectra of the samples were recorded to correlate the emission bands with the estimated lifetimes. Whereas single Ce-doped compound presented a fast dominant component (τ < 0.41 μs, ∼63% of the signal), single Gd-doped compound exhibited a slow dominant component (τ = 2.3 ms, ∼67% of the signal). All Ag-codoped compounds (except for the Ce–Ag-codoped compound) presented a common dominant component with a ∼43 μs lifetime, which is ascribed to a broad emission centered at ∼330 nm. Both lifetimes and OSL emission spectra for the Gd-Ag-codoped compounds suggest that two luminescent centers compete for the radiative recombinations, confirming previous reported results. The relative Gd and Ag molar concentrations also had a strong influence in the estimated luminescence lifetimes of the slow component, probably due to the introduction of shallow trapping centers by silver doping. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the common luminescence in Ag-codoped compounds appeared to be in agreement with the Mott-Seitz model for luminescence quenching. This work provides a better understanding of the physical processes and dynamics behind the radiative recombinations linked to OSL in borate compounds.

Antibacterial Effects of Sodium Borate and Calcium Borate Based Polymeric Coatings for Orthopedic Implants.

IntroductionImplants used in orthopedic surgery can be colonized by bacteria that form biofilm layers complicating treatment. We aimed to determine titanium implants' antibacterial and biofilm-degrading properties when coated with sodium borate (NaB) and calcium borate (CaB) minerals.MethodsWe analyzed twenty-four different implants. Three implants were not coated, three were coated with only a carrier polymer (alginate), and eighteen were coated with either CaB or NaB at different concentrations. The implants were incubated with Staphylococcus aureus, and then the bacterial colonies were enumerated.ResultsThe highest microbial load was observed on the implant coated with alginate (1000 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL). The implant without coating contained a microbial load of 420 CFU/mL. The microbial loads of the implants coated with 0.75 mg/mL CaB or 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 mg/mL NaB (100, 200, 0, and 0 CFU/mL, respectively) were lower than that of the implant without coating. No biofilm formation was observed on implant surfaces coated with 0.5 mg/mL NaB, 0.75 mg/mL NaB, or 0.75 mg/mL CaB; biofilm formation was observed on the implant without coating and alginate-coated implants surfaces.ConclusionAt high concentrations, borate minerals (NaB and CaB) have a potent antibacterial effect on colonization and biofilm formation on the implant surface. These elements may be used in implant coating in the future because of their potential antibacterial effects.

Reduction of UO2 and ThO2 content in zircon mineral from Bangka Region using calcium borate and hydrochloric acid

In an effort to reduce radiation exposure in the use of zircon minerals as opacity for the ceramic industry, it is required that the concentrations of UO2 and ThO2 contained in zircon must be less than 500 ppm. The purpose of this study was to reduce the concentration of UO2 and ThO2 in zircon minerals. The experimental investigation was initiated by synthesizing of calcium borate (CB), roasting of zircon concentrate with CB at various temperatures, and leaching with hydrochloric acid. The product quality of zircon minerals before and after roasting and leaching was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, X-Ray Diffractometer, and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The experimental results show that roasting zircon concentrate with CB at a zircon/CB ratio of 5/5 (weight/weight), a temperature of 1200 °C, a contact time of 3 h, and the leaching of the roasted results with 6 M HCl can reduce the total concentration of UO2 and ThO2 in zircon from 2008,1 ppm to 498.4 ppm. It can be concluded that the prototype zircon product from the experimental results has fulfilled the premium grade zircon with UO2 and ThO2 content of less than 500 ppm.

Synthesis and characterization of vanadium(V) oxide reinforced calcium-borate glasses: Experimental assessments on Al2O3/BaO2/ZnO contributions

This study aimed to synthesize and characterize novel calcium borate glasses based on nominal compositions of 55B2O3-35CaO-(10–x)Al2O3-xV2O5, 55B2O3-35CaO-(10–x)BaO2-xV2O5 and 55B2O3-35CaO-(10–x)ZnO-xV2O5 (where x; 0.5 and 1 mole%). Experimental methods were used to determine the optical, structural, physical, and nuclear radiation shielding properties. Density values of the synthesized glasses were measured between 2.5681 g/cm3 and 3.0231 g/cm3. All glasses exhibit a transmittance characteristic start in the visible region. The transmittance starts at approximately 370 nm and this value shifts up to 420 nm. Moreover, neutron and gamma-ray shielding properties of all glasses were measured using experimental methods. Our findings showed that ZnO and V2O5 substitution was more effective than other substitution types (i.e., Al2O3/V2O5, BaO2/V2O5) in terms of optical band gap values. Our findings also showed that BCBV0.5 sample with the highest optical band gap has superior neutron and gamma-ray shielding properties. It can be concluded that substituting ZnO and V2O5 is a more effective method of increasing the crucial neutron and gamma-ray shielding characteristics of calcium borate glasses.

Antibacterial and antifungal studies of Zn-CaB as a promising antimicrobial agent incorporated health care and cosmetic products

The Zinc doped calcium borate (Zn-CaB) was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Zinc was known to exhibit a good antimicrobial effect without causing any environmental issues. However, the antimicrobial activity of zinc is relatively low as compared to silver or copper analogues. In the present investigation, an attempt was made to incorporate zinc in the matrix of calcium borates to enhance the antibacterial effect. Cosmetic products were made using the zinc-calcium-borates and the antibacterial/antifungal activity was evaluated and compared with the commercial products. The studies revealed that the antibacterial activity of Zn-CaB was equivalent to that commercially available product with a maximum of 99% reduction in bacterial strains and above 95% reduction in fungal strains. An attempt was made to incorporate a bacteriostatic effect on fabric by adding zinc-calcium-borates to detergent which exhibited prolonged antibacterial activity, even after 3 washing cycles. The cosmetic products were also evaluated for their thermal and photostability.