If we wanted to talk about a semimetal that has been present on earth since the beginning of humanity, antimony would undoubtedly top the list. In fact, although it is hardly found naturally on earth, it is estimated that man has used this semi-metal for more than 8 centuries.
Learn more about the uses of this chemical element here, in daily life, in the industry, in technology, in medicine and much more, read until the end.
Uses of antimony in everyday life
The antimony is used to increase the hardness of alloys, with lead alloys for batteries, with lead / copper / tin alloys for machine bearings.
It is also used in automotive clutch and brake parts.
The other main use is as antimony trioxide which is used for the production of flame retardant chemicals.
Antimony is used in the semiconductor industry for certain productions of infrared detectors, diodes and silicone wafers.
Small amounts are used in the production of safety matches.
Uses of antimony in the manufacture of pigments
Due to its natural silver color, antimony (specifically antimony oxide ) is used in the manufacture of textile paints and pigments of different colors. It is also used as a substitute for lead when making paints, since antimony is less harmful.
To produce refined glasses
The refined glasses go through a manufacturing process in which antimony-containing compounds are used. Antimony oxide allows to obtain resistant and refined glasses, highly demanded in the market and used in our daily lives.
Uses of antimony in technology and industry
For the manufacture of diodes and infrared detectors
Since antimony is a semimetal, it has semiconducting properties that make it the ideal element to make. infrared detectors, diodes and semiconductor devices. These devices are very important because they can behave both as insulators and conductors, a fundamental characteristic in the technology industry to make a wide range of devices.
to coat cables
Electrical cables need to be coated to preserve or enhance their energy conducting capacity. For this purpose, a antimony lead alloy.
Uses of antimony in the vulcanization of rubber
Another of the uses of antimony is in transport vehicles, they need to have resistant and durable rubber, capable of withstanding high and low temperatures, since in this way the well-being of users is guaranteed. To produce resistant and strong rubbers, it is necessary that they go through a process called “vulcanization”, which consists of heating the rubber with other compounds to provide it with cold-resistant properties.
Antimony is an element widely used in this vulcanization process. So, thanks to him, humanity can enjoy transportation vehicles.
In the semiconductor doping process
Semiconductor doping is a process by which some impurities are added to the semiconductor, this in order to alter its electrical properties. To carry out this process, pure antimony is added.
As a catalyst in polymerization reactions
Chemical catalysts are compounds that speed up the rate at which a reaction occurs. In the case of antimony, it is used to increase the speed of the polymerization reaction of polyethylene terephthalate (or PET).
PET is a polymer widely used to produce beverage containers and fibers in the manufacture of textiles.
In the manufacture of batteries, weapons and ammunition.
The antimony and lead alloy is used in the manufacture of conventional batteries. They stand out for their high capacity to store energy.
Likewise, an alloy of lead and antimony is also used to make weapons and ammunition, since the resulting material is hard and resistant.
Uses of antimony in medicine
In drugs to treat parasitic infections
This use was more widespread in ancient times, but it declined because antimony in high doses can be harmful to health. However, today various compounds containing antimony are still used in the preparation of drugs to combat leishmaniasis.
Uses of antimony in renewable energy
In the production of “antimonene”
This use has not yet spread and to date, tests and investigations are still being carried out in this regard. Scientists from the Autonomous University of Madrid have managed to create a compound similar to graphene, but using antimony, that is, “ antimony graphene «.
It is an antimony graphene, which would make it possible to create supercapacitors and leave behind the lithium currently used by batteries.
According to the studies carried out to date, this “antimonene” is a two-dimensional compound capable of storing more energy than graphene, while increasing the stability of the charging and discharging processes of electrical energy. This makes it an ideal material to be used in the electrical industry and produce a lower environmental impact.