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Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum hydroxide and antimony products are primary industrial and medicinal materials, frequently used together in fire-safety applications.
- Medicinal: Widely used as an antacid to treat heartburn and acid indigestion by neutralising stomach acid. It also acts as an adjuvant in vaccines to boost immune response.
- Fire Safety: Functions as a flame retardant filler in plastics, rubber, and textiles. Above 200°C, it undergoes endothermic decomposition, releasing water vapour that cools the material and dilutes flammable gases.
- Industrial: A raw material for producing alumina (aluminum oxide) and a coagulant in water treatment to remove impurities.
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Antimony Products
- Flame Retardant Synergist: Its most significant use is as a synergist with halogenated flame retardants. It works in the gas phase of a fire to interrupt combustion chain reactions.
- Metallurgy: Added to lead to increase hardness and mechanical strength, primarily for lead-acid batteries, ammunition, and cable sheathing.
- Chemical/Manufacturing: Used as a catalyst in the production of PET plastics (bottles) and as a fining agent in glass manufacturing to remove bubbles.
- High-Tech: High-purity antimony is a semiconductor used in infrared detectors and diodes. [12, 16, 17, 18]
