Glossary

Antimony is a chemical element (symbol Sb, atomic number 51) that’s typically described as a metalloid—a lustrous gray, brittle material whose properties fall between metals and nonmetals.

In industrial and chemical supply chains, antimony is used mainly in two big ways: (1) as an alloying element, especially with lead (and sometimes tin), to increase hardness/strength—notably in lead-acid battery components, type metals, and bearing alloys such as Babbitt; and (2) as antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃), which is widely used as a synergist in flame-retardant systems, commonly alongside halogenated flame retardants in plastics and polymers.

In a fastener/industrial hardware context, antimony usually matters indirectly rather than as a base fastener material: you may encounter it in plant materials and consumables (battery systems, bearings/bushings in equipment, certain solders, and flame-retardant plastics used around assemblies). It’s also worth noting that antimony and many antimony compounds are toxic, so handling (especially powders like Sb₂O₃) is managed with appropriate industrial hygiene controls.