BOREN
Boron Cement
Developed in cooperation with the Turkish Cement Manufacturers Association, the boron active belite cement is produced by adding colemanite to the raw material of clinker. A patent certificate has been obtained for the cement, and the TSE standard has been registered under the TS 13353 code. Within the scope of the project carried out in cooperation with DSİ-Technical Research and Quality Control Department, the properties of the concrete produced with active boron cement were examined and the project report was published as “BOREN Publication no: 1”. 3,600 m concrete road and water channel have been covered with boron cement. While highway performance is monitored by the General Directorate of Highways, water channel concrete performance is monitored by DSİ. Our efforts continue to include the product in commercial production or public investments.
Sodium Borohydride
As a result of the studies carried out within the scope of the project titled "Sodium Borohydride Synthesis and Pilot Production" carried out in cooperation with our Institute and the TÜBİTAK-MAM Chemistry Institute, a pilot plant for sodium boron hydride production with a 2 kg/charge capacity was established on a 12 (m) x 8 (m) area in the TÜBİTAK-MAM campus. Trimethyl borate production can also be carried out at the pilot plant. For commercializing the product, an informational meeting was held on 02.04.2009 with the participation of industry representatives regarding the transition to industrial production. Industrialization studies continue.
Trimethyl Borate
Within the scope of the project supported by our Institute and carried out at Istanbul Technical University, a patent certificate has been obtained for the technology of the product synthesized. The same product can also be manufactured as a by-product of sodium borohydride production.
Fuel Cell
Two direct sodium borohydride fuel cells (DSBH-YP) with 100 Watt and 1 kWatt power capacity were produced within the scope of the projects carried out in cooperation with our Institute and TÜBİTAK-MAM Energy Institute. With the “Sodium Borohydride Fuel Cell Vehicle” project, 3 kW fuel cell (95% domestic production) was produced to be used in-vehicle applications. Plates, catalysts, and membrane electrode units were produced within the scope of the project in addition to fuel cell system integration. The vehicle can accelerate up to 80 km/h and can travel 150 km with a full tank.
At the "BOREN TÜBİTAK-MAM Boron and Hydrogen Technologies Quality Center" - established within the organization of TÜBİTAK-MAM Energy Institute with the cooperation between BOREN and TÜBİTAK-MAM - studies are being conducted to use the technology, infrastructure, know-how, and products developed within the scope of the fuel cell projects in different areas.
Boron-Added Ceramics
While boron is used in the glazing processes of ceramics, a study was carried out on the use of boron in the ceramic body in cooperation with the Ceramics Research Center (SAM), and it was revealed that the use of boron increases the strength of ceramics, in addition to decreasing the production temperature, and boosting the production speed. Project results were shared with the industry through various mediums.
Boron-Added Brick Production
Flame-retardant Wooden Sheet
In cooperation with Kastamonu Wood Industry, preliminary research and trial productions were made for the use of boron chemicals as flame retardants. It has been found that the samples, which were subjected to B1 and B2 flammability tests, meet the B2 class and are close to meeting the B1 class.
Boron Nitride Coating
Cubic boron nitride coating was developed from hexagonal boron nitride sources using PVD Magnetron Sputtering Production Technology. In addition to the characterization of the coatings made with the device produced by a local company, positive results were obtained from performance measurements in different applications, especially cutting tools and molds.
Light, Insulating, and Shape Formed Boron Added Processed Pumice Material Production
Technology
Being widespread in its natural form all across our country, the Boron Pumice Material offers an alternative to the gas concrete blocks. In this case, however, the pumice material is shaped by a thermal process and coated with a boron-based substance instead of cement. The end result is a light alternative product with insulating characteristics. Since the production of standard pumice bricks heavily involves cement use, the pumice material's natural characteristics of lightness, porosity, and insulation strength suffer significantly. With the boron pumice material, it is possible to preserve the natural characteristics of the pumice on the end-products.
The fact that the boron-based, light, and insulated materials are manufactured in our country is an essential development in our economic, scientific, and technological capabilities, considering that this material demonstrates the potential to become a primary product in the construction industry with its insulation and earthquake-resistant properties.
Application Areas
In addition to a wide range of consumption quantities in the construction industry, the boron pumice material has the potential to be used in various other industries as processed material, i.e. filtration andwaste water treatment.
Advantages
1- Being vastly available in reserves all across the country and having the most-coveted natural properties (i.e. lightness, insulation, absorbency), the pumice material has the potential to become a valuable asset, provided that it is used as a cement-free product, which will preserve its inherent qualities.
2- Using boron instead of cement allows us to create lighter products with much more insulation and strength. Thus, it reduces building load and eases heat dissipation, which saves both energy and material.
3- By preserving the material properties of pumice, boron-based products provide more strength compared to other products available in the market (bricks, cement-based pumice concrete, gas concrete), offering significant advantages in terms of earthquake resistance.
Environment-Friendly Adhesive Products Made out of PET Bottle Waste
Technology
Typically, the raw materials required for adhesive manufacturing are imported from abroad. The raw materials of this product are obtained by recycling PET bottles, which reduces the import-dependency in raw materials and offers a low-cost starting material to generate economic advantage. Moreover, using waste materials to create a new product is an important step towards reducing the environmental pollution. The addition of boron to the structure also ensures the product to have self-damping properties.
Application Areas
Wooden surfaces are the main application areas of polyurethane adhesive materials. The fact that the developed adhesive has self-extinguishing properties make the product a good candidate for the construction industry, where flammability poses serious problems.
Advantages
1. Instead of halogen-containing materials, which are currently the most-preferred option despite posing a danger to human health, boron, the natural mineral of our country, isused to enrich the material's self-damping properties.
2. The polyol ingredients for this adhesive will not be imported since it can be synthesized locally.
3. The rapid increase in environmental pollution causes many problems and endangers all living things. With this product, the non-biodegradable PET bottles will be recycled reducing the environmental pollution.
Boron-Added Impregnation Chemical
Technology
Developed by BOREN, the “Boron Additive Impregnation Chemical ” is a water-soluble boron-copper-based impregnation material to protect wood against wood-decay fungi, harmful organisms (insects, termites, etc.), and adverse environmental conditions. This chemical can ensure that the wood is effective against harmful organisms, extending the service life of the wood. It has also some flame retardant properties. The commonly-used vacuum-pressure method can be applied to penetrate this chemical impregnation material into the wood. While imported chemicals are dominance on the market, a new generation and locally-sourced impregnation chemical will be brought to the industry, contributing to the country's economy and preventing import-dependency in the impregnation sector of our country.
Application Areas
This impregnation substance can be used in the following areas of external environments:
• Fences
• Wood utility poles
• Outdoor sofa sets (benches, camellia, pergola, etc.)
• Railway sleepers
• Piers and bridges
• Ground coating
• Exterior facade coating
• Roof systems
• Landscaping
Advantages
• Increases the service life 5-10 times, depending on the wood type, by protecting the wood against harmful organisms such as wood-decay fungi, insects, termites, as well as adverse environmental conditions.
• Does not contain chemical components such as chromium, arsenic, etc., which have high toxicity levels in terms of human health and the environment.
• Provides partial flame resistance with the use of boron compounds.
• Suitable for industrial applications as it allows penetration by vacuum-pressure method.
• Does not impair the mechanical properties of wood.Ready-to Commercialize Products
Boron Nitride:
Supported by our institute, BORTEK Bor Teknolojileri Ltd. Şti produces boron nitride in small quantities upon order meeting the local demand. The product is also utilized to produce engine additive oils developed by the company. Thanks to the protocol signed with the company, research and applied studies are carried out in order to promote the use of boron nitride. Boron nitride coating processes continue at the BOREN Boron Coating Quality Center established at Atılım University, research and application studies are being conducted on the use of boron nitride as a solid lubricant in additive oils for energy-saving purposes.
Elemental Boron:
When elemental boron is mixed with oxidizers such as ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) in certain proportions, high energy yield combustion can be achieved. Moreover, metal additives are widely used in rocket igniter and explosives to increase energy density. Used as basic components in the production of metallurgical applications, air-bag igniter, military pyrotechnics, solid rocket fuels (as an energetic material), super-conductive materials (MgB2), the elemental boron products have been produced by PAVEZYUM Kimya Sanayi Tic. AŞ in 86-95% purity at the industrial scale and 98.5% purity at the small scale. Depending on the purity levels, the elemental boron prices vary between 300 and 2,500 $/kg. Produced 5 kg per week, the nano boron can also be used in the production of magnesium diboride (MgB2), a new generation super-conductive material.
MgB2 Super-conductive Powder:
Cellulose Insulation:
Since the establishment of our institute, we have been cooperating with Çağ Mühendislik and YALİZ Yapı in the production of cellulose insulation materials. Both companies still produce cellulose insulation material in pulp form.
Agriculture Boron-Wooden Boron:
A patent certificate has been obtained for the agricultural boron-wooden boron product, which is produced at the pilot plant established under the protocol signed between our Institute and the METU Department of Chemical Engineering. The production right has been granted to BM Bor Teknolojileri Araştırma ve Geliştirme Şirketi within the scope of a license agreement. The technical information on the product's manufacturing process has been shared with the General Directorate of Eti Mine Administration. The product is manufactured under the trade name Etidot-67 at the facility (8 thousand tons of production capacity) founded within the organization of Bandırma Directorate of Boron Operations.
Zinc Borate:
Synthesized and manufactured at the pilot plant within the scope of the cooperation agreement with METU Department of Chemical Engineering, , the zinc borate material has been patented. The production right has been granted to BM Bor Teknolojileri Araştırma ve Geliştirme Şirketi and MELOS AŞ within the scope of a license agreement. In addition to meeting the domestic demand, the product is being exported abroad.