Antimony compounds are used to make flame-proofing materials, paints, ceramic enamels, glass and pottery. Antimony alloys are also used in batteries, low friction metals, type metal and cable sheathing, among other products.
Antimony is alloyed with lead to increase lead's durability. Very pure antimony is used to make certain types of semiconductor devices, such as diodes and infrared detectors. Antimony makes up about 0.00002% of the earth's crust.Īntimony is a brittle metal and is a poor conductor of heat and electricity. Nicolas Lémery, a French chemist, was the first person to scientifically study antimony and its compounds. It is sometimes found free in nature, but is usually obtained from the ores stibnite (Sb 2S 3) and valentinite (Sb 2O 3). Antimony has been known since ancient times.