Sb₂O₃ (Antimony Oxide)

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Notes

-Antimony oxide is used as an opacifier in low fire glazes and porcelain enamel (mainly leadless but it has been replaced to an extent by titania). Antimony is easily reducible; thus an oxidizing agent like potassium nitrate may be required to prevent it from going into solution and losing its opacifying power and affecting color.

-It is not useful in glazes over cone 1 due to volatilization.

-Antimony can be used as a yellow body stain in combination with rutile or titanium.

-Antimony will bleach the surface of low fire red-burning clay to a buff color to produce variegated coloration.

-The glass industry uses antimony as a decolorizing and fining agent to clarify glasses and as a stabilizing agent in the production of emerald green glass.

-Antimony has a low thermal expansion and reduces crazing.

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Mechanisms

By Tony Hansen

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