Antimony metal is mined all over the world and its main derivative 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. Plastics, textiles, glass, paint, and construction are just a few of the industries that use antimony.
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. Polyurethanes, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), epoxies, ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber (EPDM), phenolics, acrylnitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) are just a few of the plastics that use it. Plastics companies use many additives like halogen flame retardant 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. However, some companies will sell the products already mixed together in the appropriate ratios in a liquid dispersion for easier handling.
Another use of antimony trioxide is as a clarifying agent for glass. Many glass manufacturers purchase antimony trioxide to help with the quality of their product. Clarifying agents are what makes it possible to have clear glass. The antimony trioxide is added during the meltdown process and will remove any bubbles, inclusions or color that is not desired. 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.
Because it is a white powder, antimony is sometimes used as a white pigment The most common industries to use it for that purpose are the porcelain and enamel industries that use it as an opacifier. Companies can purchase antimony is many ways like as a antimony trioxide flame retardant 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.