Understanding the subject
Antimony is the chemical element represented by the symbol Sb. It has atomic number 51. The element name is used across the industry, but commercial materials containing antimony can be very different from one another.
What it means in practice
A purchase may concern refined metal, a mineral concentrate or a manufactured compound. Their composition, physical form and intended use determine what a buyer needs to specify. Knowing the element name is the start of the discussion rather than a complete purchasing description.
Bring it into your next discussion
When contacting a producer or trader, identify the actual material required and its role in your process. This prevents a metal specification being applied to a chemical compound or a concentrate quotation being mistaken for a refined-metal offer.
- Name the material, not only the element.
- Provide the intended process and required specification.
- Ask whether quoted values describe material or contained Sb.
Background source: Original publisher ↗