The Several Uses of Antimony

The main derivative of antimony metal is antimony trioxide. This product has many uses including as a flame retardant synergist, a catalyst, a clarifying agent, an opacifier, or a white pigment. Because there are so many applications you will find that the industries using it are just as varied. You can find antimony used in the plastics industry, textiles, glass making, paint, construction materials, and porcelain and enamel.
Antimony oxide is a flame retardant synergist so it cannot be used by itself as a flame retardant. The antimony works in combination with a halogen flame retardant. To achieve the same amount of fire protection you only need to use half as much halogen if you include the antimony synergist. Many different kinds of materials use the antimony/halogen combination for flame retardant additives. Some of the most common plastics are high impact polystyrene (HIPS), ethylene propylene diene M- class rubber (EPDM), polyethylene (PE), epoxies, polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyurethanes, and phenolics. Plastics companies use many additives like antimony trioxide fire inhibitor synergist in a variety of ways. You can buy antimony trioxide in large supersacks or multi-walled paper bags of various sizes. Other packaging options include drums or kegs. You will find that the halogen flame retardant is packaged the same way. If industrial hygiene is a concern, you can find some companies that will sell you a liquid dispersion that includes both already mixed in the right ratios.
The glass industry also uses antimony oxide as a clarifying agent. Many glass manufacturers purchase antimony oxide clarifying agent to help with the quality of their product. Clarifying agents are what makes it possible to have clear glass. The bubbles, inclusions, and colors that the glass maker does not want in the final product are removed by adding the antimony during the meltdown process. If there was no clarifying agent, the natural impurities in sand would turn glass light green or light blue. Some clarifying agents have problems of their own because over time they react with ultraviolet light, but antimony trioxide is not one of these. One example is with manganese oxide which turns the glass purple over time as it starts to break down.
Antimony is also used as a catalyst in the polymerization of polyethylene terephthalate or PET.The polymerization of polyethylene terephthalate or PET requires a catalyst and antimony is used for that purpose as well. PET is what is used to make water bottles or other containers. The material used for this purpose in generally of a higher purity than the material used for flame retardant or glass clarifying applications. Many manufacturers use this catalyst because the cost/performance ratio is very good. Other catalysts may work better than antimony but not enough because they are still too expensive.
One final use of antimony trioxide is as a pigment. It can be used as an opacifier for the porcelain and enamel industries often. Companies can purchase antimony is many ways like as a large particle size antimony trioxide and as a result it is used in many final products. No matter who you are or what you do, the chances of you coming in contact with a product that contains antimony or was made with antimony in the process are extremely high every day of your life.