Antimony and Its Use in Fire Safety Materials
The Antimony is a lustrous, silvery, brittle metalloid that has been used by humans for thousands of years, with records of its application dating back to ancient civilizations. Known by the chemical symbol Sb (derived from the Latin word stibium), antimony occupies a unique place in the periodic table, sitting between metals and non-metals. This duality gives it special chemical and physical properties, making it valuable across multiple industries. Although relatively rare in the Earth’s crust, antimony plays a critical role in the production of flame retardants, alloys, semiconductors, and other specialized materials.
The element occurs naturally in more than 100 mineral forms, with stibnite (antimony trisulfide, Sb₂S₃) being the most commercially important ore. Other antimony-bearing minerals include valentinite and senarmontite. Major producers of antimony include China, Russia, Bolivia, Tajikistan, and South Africa, with China historically dominating global supply. Because of its scarcity and concentrated production, antimony is considered a strategic mineral, and many governments closely monitor its availability for national security and industrial needs.
One of the most significant uses of antimony is in the manufacture of flame retardants. When incorporated into plastics, textiles, and electronics, antimony trioxide acts as a synergist with halogenated flame retardants, reducing flammability and slowing the spread of fire. This makes it an essential additive in consumer products such as children’s clothing, upholstered furniture, electrical enclosures, and building insulation materials. As fire safety regulations become stricter worldwide, demand for antimony-based flame retardants continues to grow, although environmental concerns are driving research into safer alternatives.
Another major application of antimony is in alloy production. Pure antimony is brittle, but when combined with other metals, it imparts hardness and strength. For example, antimony is a critical component in lead alloys, particularly in lead-acid batteries used for automobiles, backup power systems, and industrial applications. The addition of antimony improves the durability, corrosion resistance, and performance of battery grids. Similarly, antimony is used in alloys for bullets, cable sheathing, and soldering materials. In the past, it was also widely used in type metals for printing presses before the digital age reduced demand for that application.
In addition to flame retardants and alloys, antimony has important roles in the electronics and semiconductor industry. High-purity antimony is used in the production of semiconductors, infrared detectors, and diodes. Compounds such as indium antimonide and gallium antimonide are used to manufacture devices that operate in the infrared spectrum, including military night-vision equipment, missile guidance systems, and advanced sensors. These niche but high-value applications highlight antimony’s strategic importance in defense and technology sectors.
Antimony compounds also find use in ceramics, glass, and pigments. Antimony oxide acts as an opacifying agent in glass, giving products such as eyeglasses, ceramics, and decorative materials a milky or opaque appearance. It is also used in the production of pigments for paints and plastics, imparting colors such as yellow or enhancing the brightness of other pigments.
