What Industries Use Antimony Trioxide

The most prevalent sources of antimony metal are in China, Bolivia, Russia, and South Africa. The main derivative of antimony metal is antimony trioxide or antimony oxide. The main use for antimony oxide is as a flame retardant synergist. However, there are other uses including as a catalyst, a clarifying agent, an opacifier, or a white pigment.

A flame retardant synergist is exactly what it sounds like. The synergist works in synergy with a halogenated flame retardant. The synergist allows for the user to add much less flame retardant than they normally would half to do. You can get the same amount of protection from flammability from about half as much halogenated product if you add a small amount of synergist.

To date, the best combination for a flame retardant is the halogen/antimony combination. That is why it is used in so many materials including but not limited to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene (PE), propylene diene M-class rubber (EPDM, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), phenolics, polyurethanes, and epoxies.

Antimony trioxide is typically sold in multi-walled paper bags in powder form. The halogenated product is usually provided in a similar manner. This method of packaging causes a lot of dusting so there is an alternative. Some companies will make a specialized liquid dispersion using whatever medium you desire with the halogenated product and antimony trioxide in whatever ratio suits your process the best.

The polymerization of polyethylene terephthalate or PET requires a catalyst and one of the best choices for that job is high purity antimony trioxide. This manufacturing practice requires a more pure grade of antimony trioxide than flame-retardants. While there are other catalysts that are more efficient; antimony is still the best choice because of its optimal cost/performance ratio.

The most prevalent use of PET is in the manufacture of water bottles and other liquid containers. Many studies have shown that the toxicity of antimony trioxide is very low, but there are still some concerns about the possible migration of antimony into the liquids held in PET bottles. While the migration does happen, the concentration of antimony present is well below the threshold for concern.

The glass industry is another place you will find antimony trioxide being used. Trivalent antimony oxide is used as a clarifying agent. The clarifying agent is added during the meltdown part of the glass making process. The agent will help to eliminate bubbles and inclusions. It also is what makes the glass clear. If you didn’t add any clarifying agent then the natural impurities in sand would make glass appear light blue or light green in color. Antimony trioxide unlike other clarifying agents does not cause any coloration at any time. Manganese oxide will make the glass clear initially, but exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun will cause the manganese to react and turn the glass purple.

Antimony trioxide is a white crystalline powder. Because of its color, one last application is as a pigment or opacifier for porcelain and enamel. This is a very small part of the market share for antimony trioxide, but you can see how varied the industries that use antimony can be.