If our countdown were in the leagues of the
Olympics we would now be onto our bronze position element. Narrowly missing out
on a podium spot last week was bismuth, but coming in 3rd place is antimony!
RANKING:
3
ELEMENT
NAME AND SYMBOL:
Antimony
(Sb)
RELATIVE
SUPPLY RISK INDEX:
9.0
WHY?:
As
will be seen below antimony is emerging as a much needed element due to its
application in microelectronics. China holds 85% of the world’s deposits and
accounts for 90% of the production, which is a huge proportion! Coming in at
second place South Africa accounts for just 2.2%.
LEADING
PRODUCER:
China
TOP RESERVE HOLDER:
China
WHY
THE DEMAND?:
Antimony
has few uses but is very much in demand for them. 60% of resources go into the
production of flame-retardants, which are commonly integrated into children’s
clothes and toys as well as aircraft and car seat covers. The remaining 40% is
taken up by lead alloys, which are used in lead-acid batteries; as a fining
agent to take bubbles out of glass; and as a pigment. Recently its use is
growing in semiconductors and microelectronics, an application likely to grow.
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