Calcium tetraborate

Flammability

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

flammable solids

Type of information:

read-across based on grouping of substances (category approach)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Justification for type of information:

Flammability is the ability of a substance to burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion. The degree of flammability depends largely upon the chemical composition of the material. The chemical composition of calcium tetraborate is identical to calcium metaborate consisting of the same elements/functional groups. Any variations due to the range of trigonal and tetrahedral species between the substances are not expected to lead to any changes in the flammability potential of these substances. Read-across to the flammability result on calcium metaborate is therefore proposed.

Key result

Test procedure:

burning rate test: preliminary screening test

Remarks on result:

substance does not ignite and propagate combustion either by burning with flame or smouldering along 200 mm of the powder train within the 2 minutes test period

Interpretation of results:

GHS criteria not met

Conclusions:

Calcium tetraborate can be considered as non-flammable.

Executive summary:

Following the UN method Test N.1, a preliminary screening test was conducted initially for calcium metaborate. During the preliminary screening, the sample glowed red and reduced in size, when in contact with the ignition source. No propagation was observed. It was concluded that no further testing is required. Calcium metaborate can be considered as non-flammable.

Flammability is the ability of a substance to burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion.  The degree of flammability depends largely upon the chemical composition of the material.  The chemical composition of calcium tetraborate is identical to calcium metaborate consisting of the same elements/functional groups.  Any variations due to the range of trigonal and tetrahedral species between the substances are not expected to lead to any changes in the flammability potential of these substances. It can therefore be concluded that calcium tetraborate is not flammable.

Description of key information

A preliminary screening test on calcium metaborate was conducted which showed no ignition or propagation was observed. It was concluded that no further testing was required. Calcium tetraborate is expected to behave in the same manner; any variations due to the range of trigonal and tetrahedral species between the substances are not expected to lead to any changes in the classification and labelling of the category. It can therefore be concluded that calcium tetraborate is not flammable.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Flammability:

not classified

Justification for classification or non-classification

A preliminary screening test on calcium metaborate was conducted which showed no ignition or propagation was observed. It was concluded that no further testing was required.  Calcium metaborate was considered as non-flammable and therefore does not meet the criteria for physico-chemical classification. As the flammability result is not close to a classification boundary for the physico-chemical hazards, any variations due to the range of trigonal and tetrahedral species between the substances are not expected to lead to any changes in the classification and labelling of the category. It is therefore expected that all calcium borate substances listed in this category including calcium tetraborate will not meet the criteria for physico-chemical classification.