Appendix IV: Applications mentioned by stakeholders that are not in scope of this assessment; the following uses are understood to be intermediate uses of diantimony trioxide

• Author: Clemm, Christan; Löw, Clara; Baron, Yifaat; Moch, Katja; Möller, Martin; Köhler, Andreas R; Gensch, Carl-Otto; Deubzer, Otmar
• Pages: 79-80

RoHS Annex II Dossier, final

Diantimony trioxide (flame retardant)

79

15 Appendix IV: Applications mentioned by stakeholders that are not in scope of

this assessment; the following uses are understood to be intermediate uses of

diantimony trioxide:

•Use as clarifying aid in certain glasses: Contributions of European Domestic Glass (EDG) and

the European Special Glass Association (ESGA)169, of SPECTARIS170 and of the International

Antimony Association (i2a)171 explain this to be an intermediate use in the synthesis of certain

glasses with the purpose of providing specific characteristics to the glass. Accordingly, it is used

to provide a specific glass with enhanced transparency by oxidizing the Iron (Fe) ions and thus

prevents the color of Fe2+ ions. This increases the solar and light transmission. Besides the effect

or optical transmission, the addition of Sb2O3 in the glass ingredients has an additional effect on

the molten glasses in terms of improving turbidity and removing bubbles. It is also used to produce

special glass inhibiting the reduction of solarisation effects. Sb ions are present, bound in the glass

matrix.

•Use as opacifying agent in functional ceramics: According to the i2a172 as well as the

Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e. V. (ZVEI)173, diantimony trioxide is

added to ceramic minerals at high temperature (800-1000°C). In the final product the antimony

ions will be embedded in the ceramic matrix with ionic bonds/semi-covalent bonds to other atoms

like oxygen, silicon etc., resulting in some kind of oligomeric or polymeric mixed antimony and

silicon oxides. E.g. Meggitt PLC (2020)174 uses ATO as a dopant in several different types of

piezoceramics that are used in a wide variety of applications, including transducers for medical

ultrasound, vibration sensors for the automotive and aerospace industry, under water acoustics

and flowmeters.

169 European Domestic Glass (EDG) and European Special Glass Association (ESGA) (2018): Contribution submitted on

13.06.2018 during the stakeholder consultation conducted from 20 April 2018 to 15 June 2018 by Oeko-Institut in the

course of the study to support the review of the list of restricted substances and to assess a new exemption request

under RoHS 2 (Pack 15);

http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_Pack_15/1st_Consultation_Contributions/Contribution

_EDG_ESGA_diantimony_trioxide_20180611_submission_on_Sb2O3.pdf, last viewed 26.06.2018

170 SPECTARIS (2018): Contribution submitted on 15.06.2018 during the stakeholder consultation conducted from 20 April

2018 to 15 June 2018 by Oeko-Institut in the course of the study to support the review of the list of restricted substances

and to assess a new exemption request under RoHS 2 (Pack 15);

http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_Pack_15/1st_Consultation_Contributions/Contribution

_Spectaris_diantimony_180614StakeholderConsultations_Main.pdf, last viewed 26.06.2018

171 International Antimony Association (i2a) (2018): Contribution submitted on 15.06.2018 during the stakeholder

consultation conducted from 20 April 2018 to 15 June 2018 by Oeko-Institut in the course of the study to support the

review of the list of restricted substances and to assess a new exemption request under RoHS 2 (Pack 15);

http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_Pack_15/1st_Consultation_Contributions/Contribution

_i2a_diantimony_Response_ATO_20180615_FINAL.pdf, last viewed 26.06.2018

172 Op. cit. International Antimony Association (i2a) (2018)

173 Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e. V. (ZVEI) (2018): Contribution submitted on 14.06.2018

during the stakeholder consultation conducted from 20 April 2018 to 15 June 2018 by Oeko-Institut in the course of the

study to support the review of the list of restricted substances and to assess a new exemption request under RoHS 2

(Pack 15);

http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_Pack_15/1st_Consultation_Contributions/Contribution

_diantimony_trioxide__ZVEI_Answers_RoHS_Pack_15_Fragebogen_ATO.pdf, last viewed 26.06.2018

174 Meggitt PLC (2029): Contribution submitted on 12.02.2020 during the stakeholder consultation conducted

from 05 December 2019 to 13 February 2020 by Oeko-Institut in the course of the study to support the

review of the list of restricted s ubstances and to assess a new exemption request under RoH S 2 (Pack 15);

https://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_Pack_15/4th_Consultation_PartII/contribu

tion_Meggitt_RoHS15_Input_ATO_20200211.pdf