Application
Antimony(III) oxide serves a critical role in various industries due to its versatility and effectiveness in enhancing material properties. Its primary application is as a flame retardant synergist, often used in synergy with halogenated materials to create less flammable chars, crucial for the safety of plastics, rubber, textiles, adhesives, fiberglass, and paper. Besides its fire retardant properties, antimony(III) oxide is employed as a pigment, thanks to its white or gray appearance, enhancing the opacity and color of products like paints, enamels, and certain plastics. In glass production, it acts as a fining agent to remove color and bubbles, while in ceramics and enamels, it increases opacity and surface gloss. Additionally, antimony(III) oxide contributes to automotive brake linings as a friction additive, and is used as a catalyst in PET resin manufacture, highlighting its significance across diverse applications from chemical manufacturing to textile processing.