Editing Antimony (section)

=== Flame retardants ===

Antimony is mainly used as the [[antimony trioxide|trioxide]] for [[flame retardant|flame-proofing compounds]], always in combination with halogenated flame retardants except in halogen-containing polymers. The flame retarding effect of antimony trioxide is produced by the formation of halogenated antimony compounds,<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZG9VFSBnIPAC&pg=PA61|chapter=Antimony trioxide and Related Compounds|title=Flame retardants for plastics and textiles: Practical applications|isbn=978-3-446-41652-9|last1=Weil|first1=Edward D.|last2=Levchik|first2=Sergei V.|date=4 June 2009|publisher=Hanser }}</ref><!--10.1016/S0141-3910(02)00067-8--> which react with hydrogen atoms, and probably also with oxygen atoms and OH radicals, thus inhibiting fire.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/0010-2180(73)90006-0|title=Mass spectrometric studies of flame inhibition: Analysis of antimony trihalides in flames|date=1973|last1=Hastie|first1=John W.|journal=Combustion and Flame|volume=21|issue=1 |page=49|bibcode=1973CoFl...21...49H }}</ref> Markets for these flame-retardants include children's clothing, toys, aircraft, and automobile seat covers. They are also added to [[polyester resin]]s in [[glass-reinforced plastic|fiberglass]] [[composite material|composites]] for such items as light aircraft engine covers. The resin will burn in the presence of an externally generated flame, but will extinguish when the external flame is removed.<ref name="Ullmann">Grund, Sabina C.; Hanusch, Kunibert; Breunig, Hans J.; Wolf, Hans Uwe (2006) "Antimony and Antimony Compounds" in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'', Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a03_055.pub2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZG9VFSBnIPAC&pg=PA15|pages=15–16|title=Flame retardants for plastics and textiles: Practical applications|isbn=978-3-446-41652-9|last1=Weil|first1=Edward D.|last2=Levchik|first2=Sergei V.|date=4 June 2009|publisher=Hanser }}</ref>