FACILE SYNTHESIS OF COPPER ANTIMONITE

Copper antimonite, CuSb2O4, is a candidate oxidant for use in time delays for mining detonators. A facile process for the synthesis of copper antimonite comprises the reaction of antimony trioxide with copper-ammonia complex with excess ammonia at reflux conditions (ca. 65°C) for about 1 h. Thereafter the reaction is driven to completion by driving off the ammonia by distillation. A well-crystallized product with a cuboid crystal habit approximately 4 µm in size is obtained.