Bordeaux Mixture 20% WP (Blue) Blue shade · 20% Cu as metal · WP
Where shade and tank performance are set by the same dial — in a powder, fineness drives both the color you see and the suspensibility you depend on.
Chelora Chemicals is a blue Bordeaux 20% WP supplier and sourcing partner serving registrants and distributors across the United States, with shade, lime ratio and suspensibility agreed before dispatch.
- CAS Number
- 8011-63-0
- Formulation type
- Wettable powder — WP
- Copper as Cu
- 20% w/w
- Composition
- Copper sulfate + hydrated lime
- Shade
- Blue, matched to reference sample
- FRAC group
- M1 — multi-site contact
- Appearance
- Blue to blue-green powder
- Transport
- UN 3077 · Class 9 · PG III
- HS Code
- 3808 92
Note: on a powder, shade and suspensibility share a variable. Fineness changes how light scatters off the blend, so it moves the color — and it also governs how long the material stays dispersed in the tank. You cannot grind finer to chase a shade without moving the suspensibility, or coarsen for tank reasons without moving the shade. On this grade they are specified together, against a retained reference sample, because there is no published numeric color standard for Bordeaux.
Where the shade is decided
Three composition variables, and one of them is shared with tank performance.
Why it matters: fineness is not a free variable here — it sets the color and the tank behavior at the same time, so neither can be tuned alone
Shade on a powder, and what it is tied to
Blue Bordeaux 20% WP is chemically the standard product — copper sulfate and hydrated lime at 20% copper expressed as metal, the same FRAC M1 multi-site contact chemistry, the same dormant-season positioning. What differs is that appearance is written into the specification and matched to a retained sample.
The useful thing to understand about a powder specifically is that shade and tank performance are not independent. Color here follows the copper sulfate grade, the lime ratio and the fineness of the blend — and fineness is the same variable that governs suspensibility, how long the material stays dispersed rather than settling out. Grind finer to deepen a shade and you change the tank behavior with it. That is why both are specified on the same order rather than separately.
What has to be specified together here
- Shade, against a retained reference sample. There is no published numeric color standard for Bordeaux.
- Fineness. It drives the shade and the suspensibility at once, so it cannot be tuned for one alone.
- Lime ratio. A color variable that also buffers phytotoxicity, so it cannot float either.
- The granule equivalent: blue Bordeaux 20% WDG.
Handling character
Bordeaux is a Class 9 dangerous good, corrosive to equipment and phytotoxic on new growth. Full detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Blue to blue-green powder |
| Shade | Matched to retained reference sample |
| Copper as Cu | 20% w/w ± tolerance |
| Copper sulfate to lime ratio | Per agreed specification |
| Fineness & suspensibility | Per agreed specification — linked |
| Wet sieve residue & wettability | Per agreed specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Blue to blue-green powder |
| Nature | Mixture, not a single compound |
| Mode of action | Multi-site contact; FRAC M1 |
| Tank stability | Use the same day once mixed |
| Rainfastness | Longer lasting than fixed coppers |
| Phytotoxicity | Higher than fixed coppers |
| Equipment | Highly corrosive; rinse thoroughly |
Characteristics compiled from public agricultural extension guidance on Bordeaux mixture. Because the product is a mixture rather than a single compound, its behavior depends on the copper sulfate to lime ratio. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where a shade-matched powder is specified
Branded lines, repacking consistency and visible spray deposits.
Branded retail & shelf identity
Growers recognize a repeat purchase by appearance, so a shade shift between lots reads as a different product.
- Retail packs to your label artwork
- Shade held across the contract
- Retained reference per lot
Counterfeit differentiation
A consistently held house shade is one of the cheaper authenticity signals a distributor has on a branded line.
- Retained reference per lot
- Fineness fixed
- Batch traceability to formulator
Spray deposit visibility
Bordeaux leaves a visible deposit and growers judge coverage by it, so consistent shade makes that judgement repeatable.
- Fineness specified alongside shade
- Lime ratio fixed
- Dormant-season use
Dormant-season disease control
Unchanged: peach leaf curl, shot hole, citrus brown rot, fire blight and walnut blight, where registered.
- FRAC M1 multi-site
- Label claims are registrant-specific
- Read the crop protection guide
Registrant & repacker supply
Bulk supply to registrants carrying a shade-specified branded Bordeaux powder line.
- 25 kg bags and bulk bags
- Second source shade-qualified
- Specification held across the contract
Import & FIFRA coordination
A pesticide import needs a Notice of Arrival on EPA Form 3540-1, and US sale or use needs an EPA-registered product.
- NOA coordination with your broker
- UN 3077 documentation prepared
- Registration remains yours
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship blue Bordeaux mixture 20% WP to nominated delivery points across the United States. The regions below are destinations we serve — Chelora Chemicals is a sourcing and supply partner, not a US manufacturer, and does not hold US stock.
Gulf Coast
The largest US chemical cluster, and the usual entry point for bulk consignments.
- Houston & Galveston, TX
- New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA
- Mobile, AL
Northeast
Container and bulk delivery into the mid-Atlantic and New England manufacturing belt.
- Newark & Elizabeth, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
Southeast
Port-side delivery for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida processing plants.
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Jacksonville, FL & Norfolk, VA
Midwest & Great Lakes
Inland rail and truck forwarding from the nearest coastal port to the industrial Midwest.
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland & Columbus, OH
West Coast
Pacific routing for West Coast processors and formulators.
- Los Angeles & Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle & Tacoma, WA
Southwest & Mountain
Inland delivery to interior states, forwarded from the Gulf or Pacific gateway.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
Importing into the United States
Blue Bordeaux mixture 20% WP is a TSCA-regulated chemical substance. Under TSCA section 13 the importer of record, or its authorized agent, must certify to US Customs and Border Protection that each shipment either complies with TSCA or is not subject to it. We confirm the substance's TSCA Inventory status and agree in writing who files that certification before the first consignment moves.
Which party carries that duty follows the Incoterm. On FOB, CFR or CIF terms it is usually the US buyer; on DDP terms it can be the seller or its agent. Safety data sheets and labels are supplied to OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard, and the UN 3077 Class 9 transport documentation is prepared before booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery points | Any nominated US plant, terminal or port of discharge |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB · CFR · CIF · DDP |
| Importer of record | Agreed in writing before the first shipment |
| TSCA certification | Section 13 positive certification filed at entry |
| Documentation | Batch COA, SDS, packing list, certificate of origin |
| Pack formats | 25 kg bags or retail packs |
Note: regional coverage describes where we deliver, not where we hold inventory. Lead time depends on producer scheduling and ocean transit to your nominated US port — we confirm both in the quotation.
How we supply blue Bordeaux mixture 20% WP
Chelora Chemicals is a Bordeaux mixture supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. The thing to settle before quoting is the copper basis and the lime ratio, because CAS 8011-63-0 describes a mixture and says nothing about either.
We place your order with whichever qualified formulator best matches your specification, your price point and your delivery window, and settle the FIFRA and import position before booking.
We will also tell you when a fixed copper is the better product. If you are spraying into new growth, Bordeaux is the wrong tool — it is more phytotoxic than copper hydroxide or copper oxychloride, and that is a crop-damage risk rather than a preference.
- Shade matched against a retained reference sample. No published numeric color standard exists for Bordeaux, so a physical reference is the only reliable control.
- Fineness specified once, for both purposes. It drives the shade and the suspensibility together, so it cannot be tuned for one without moving the other.
- Lime ratio fixed as part of the shade specification. It drives color and buffers phytotoxicity, so it cannot float.
- Copper sulfate source held constant. A grade change shifts the cast of the blue at identical copper assay.
- Second source shade-qualified in advance. A substitute that assays correctly but reads wrong is still a rejected lot.
- Honest advice on whether you need it. If the color is not exposed in your end use, we will quote the standard 20% WP instead.
Bagged or in retail packs
25 kg bags, bulk bags or retail packs — all to UN 3077 marking and labeling requirements.
25 kg poly-lined bags
Moisture-barrier bags on stretch-wrapped pallets, UN-marked, the standard commercial unit.
1 kg · 5 kg sealed packs
Small sealed packs in cartons to your approved label artwork where you hold the registration.
500–1,000 kg bulk bags
Liner-fitted bulk bags for repacking operations and large-scale distribution.
Fiber drums
Sealed fiber drums where extra moisture protection or extended storage is needed.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with dangerous goods documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for suspension and crop safety trials before a commercial order.
Class 9, corrosive and phytotoxic — all three matter
Bordeaux carries three separate cautions that the fixed coppers do not all share: it is very toxic to aquatic life, which drives the Class 9 transport classification; it is highly corrosive to spray equipment; and it is more phytotoxic than the fixed coppers. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H315Causes skin irritation.H318Causes serious eye damage.H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Three practical cautions from agricultural extension guidance. Phytotoxicity: applying Bordeaux to newly growing leaves can injure new growth, which is why it is principally a dormant-season material. Equipment corrosion: it is highly corrosive, and guidance is to rinse spray equipment at least three times with a little vinegar added to neutralize the high-pH residue. Same-day use: once mixed it begins losing effectiveness immediately, and no product form changes that. Dry ingredients also need a tank with mechanical agitation. On US registration the ordinary FIFRA rule applies — the product must itself be EPA-registered for sale or use here, that registration sits with the registrant and never with a supplier, and imports require a Notice of Arrival, EPA Form 3540-1, filed with Customs.
Storage
Store in sealed, moisture-barrier packaging in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from food, seed and feedstuffs. Keep dry: the blend cakes if it takes up moisture, and the lime fraction carbonates on exposure to air, which changes the material over time. Bunded or contained storage is advised because of the aquatic hazard.
Handling
Handle with dust control, impervious gloves and tight-fitting eye protection; the material causes serious eye damage and is harmful if swallowed. Prevent any release to drains or watercourses. Follow the exposure controls set out in the batch SDS.
Transport
Bordeaux mixture is classified as dangerous goods for transport on the basis of aquatic toxicity, normally shipped as UN 3077, Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s., Class 9, Packing Group III. Marked and labeled packaging, a dangerous goods declaration and compliant documentation are required. We confirm and document the classification for your specific grade, packaging and destination before booking.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Copper basis, copper sulfate to lime ratio, shade where specified, and formulation parameters confirmed before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS, FIFRA position and UN 3077 dangerous goods paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
Why fineness does double duty
A Bordeaux wettable powder is copper sulfate and hydrated lime, pre-reacted and milled with a wetting agent and dispersant. The shade follows three things: the copper sulfate grade and source, the copper sulfate to lime ratio — which decides how far the precipitation is taken — and the fineness of the milled blend.
That third variable is the one worth understanding, because it is also the main lever on suspensibility. Finer particles scatter more light, so the powder reads lighter and brighter; finer particles also settle more slowly, so the material stays dispersed longer in the tank. The two move together, and in opposite directions from coarsening. A formulator chasing a deeper shade by coarsening the grind will cost you tank performance, and one chasing suspensibility by grinding finer will move your color.
None of this is a crystal-form story. Unlike copper oxychloride, where blue and green are genuinely different polymorphs, Bordeaux is a mixture — its color is a composition and process outcome, reproducible but only specifiable against a physical reference sample.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Formulation type | Wettable powder — WP |
|---|---|
| Why it is blue | The copper — Bordeaux always was |
| Shade driver 1 | Copper sulfate grade and source |
| Shade driver 2 | Copper sulfate to lime ratio |
| Shade driver 3 | Fineness — shared with suspensibility |
| How to specify | Retained reference sample |
The Bordeaux range and the fixed coppers
The other Bordeaux grades and the copper chemistries supplied from the same desk.
Blue Bordeaux 20% WP, answered
Is blue Bordeaux 20% WP a different product from the standard?
Why are shade and suspensibility linked on a powder?
Is not Bordeaux blue anyway?
What else moves the shade besides fineness?
Is there an industry standard for the blue?
Is this the same as blue copper oxychloride?
What does the 20% mean?
Does it still need same-day use?
Is it still phytotoxic and corrosive?
Do you supply blue Bordeaux 20% WP in the United States?
Get a quote on blue Bordeaux mixture 20% WP
Send us your shade reference — or ask for trial packs so you can set one — with the lime ratio, fineness and suspensibility specification, pack format and US delivery point. Remember that fineness moves both, so tell us which one matters more if they conflict.