| Summary: | Zinc borates are important chemical products having industrial applications as functional additives in polymers, bio-composites, paints and ceramics. Of the thirteen well documented hydrated binary zinc borates, Zn[B<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(OH)<sub>3</sub>] (2ZnO∙3B<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>∙3H<sub>2</sub>O) is manufactured in the largest quantity and is known as an article of commerce as 2ZnO∙3B<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>∙3.5H<sub>2</sub>O. Other hydrated zinc borates in commercial use include 4ZnO∙B<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>∙H<sub>2</sub>O, 3ZnO∙3B<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>∙5H<sub>2</sub>O and 2ZnO∙3B<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>∙7H<sub>2</sub>O. The history, chemistry, and applications of these and other hydrated zinc borate phases are briefly reviewed, and outstanding problems in the field are highlighted.
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