Industrial Uses of Antimony in Flame Retardants and Alloys

Antimony is a lustrous, silvery-white metalloid with the chemical symbol Sb (from the Latin stibium). It has been used by humans for thousands of years, originally in cosmetics and medicines, and today plays a crucial role in various industrial applications. Found in nature primarily as the sulfide mineral stibnite (Sb₂S₃), antimony can also occur in its native metallic form, though rarely. It possesses a unique combination of properties—brittleness, low thermal conductivity, and resistance to corrosion—which make it valuable in both metallic alloys and chemical compounds.

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In its pure form, antimony is relatively soft and fragile, but when alloyed with other metals, it greatly enhances hardness and mechanical strength. This makes it a common additive in lead-based alloys, particularly in lead-acid batteries, cable sheathing, and ammunition. Antimony’s ability to improve lead’s hardness without compromising workability is vital for extending the lifespan and performance of such products.