You wrote: "I suspect the concentration is about 1/2% by weight. So 100 pounds of cellulose fiber insulation may contain about 5 pounds of boric acid."
1/2% of 100 pounds is 1/2 pound, not 5 pounds.
Dan
--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "Gary Olsen" <gobug@...> wrote:
>
> Boric acid is a stomach poison to some bugs. That is pure boric acid. It is also the active ingredient in many baits, but then it is only about 1/2% active ingredient. Either the insects that eat it or the ones that clean it off themselves die from stomach poisoning.
>
> As a wood preservative it is formulated with propylene glycol and absorbed by capillary action through the wood. In this formulation, it is not a bait. Termites do not carry home boric acid treated wood and poison their colony. As applied, it is a repellent. The termites just stay away. I believe the cellulose fiber is similar. It prevents fungi and rodents as well in that application.
>
> Ant baits are different than termite baits. There are many baits on the market which use other pesticides. A bait is carried home and shared with the rest of the colony. Termite baits are not boric acid (at least not while I was exterminating). Termite baits rely on the product being carried back to the colony and shared. Boric acid doesn't seem to work that way with the termites.
>
> Since cellulose fiber insulation is not usually in the part of the structure which the termites attack (like the foundation base plate), and that it professes no mold or fungi or mice, I suspect the concentration is about 1/2% by weight. So 100 pounds of cellulose fiber insulation may contain about 5 pounds of boric acid.
>
> Since papercrete is pulverized cellulose, I don't think the polyethylene glycol would be needed. I also do not know if the alkalai action of the cement has any impact on the boric acid. I suppose the truth would take some testing to confirm.
> Gary
>
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