Hydronium ion formation during the hydrometallurgical formation of valentinite (Sb2O3)

Cubic antimony trioxide or senarmontite (Sb4O6) is used as an additive to facilitate the flame retardancy of plastics and other commercial materials. This retardancy is due to the propensity of antimony trioxide to form gas-phase antimony trihalide under flame conditions, which is in turn able to st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials science 2004-02, Vol.39 (3), p.1075-1076
Main Authors: BERNETT, R. D, MITCHELL, A, BROWN, T. C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Elements and non-metal compounds (oxides, hydroxides, hydrides, sulfides, carbides, ...)
Exact sciences and technology
Hydronium ions
Inorganic chemistry and origins of life
Materials science
Preparations and properties
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Summary:Cubic antimony trioxide or senarmontite (Sb4O6) is used as an additive to facilitate the flame retardancy of plastics and other commercial materials. This retardancy is due to the propensity of antimony trioxide to form gas-phase antimony trihalide under flame conditions, which is in turn able to stabilize the free radicals in the flame. Orthorhombic Sb2O3 or valentinite shows similar properties as senarmontite, but is not normally used because it oxidizes from a white to gray color when exposed to air and sunlight. Such graying can impact on the coloring of plastics, paints and textiles, and so photo stable white senarmontite is the preferred choice. In this letter the observed formation of hydronium ions is used as an indicator for the mechanism for valentinite and senarmontite production.
ISSN:0022-2461
1573-4803
DOI:10.1023/b:jmsc.0000012947.67817.17