Ammonium Bromide Supplier in South Africa

What Is Ammonium Bromide?

Ammonium bromide (NH₄Br) is a white crystalline ammonium salt produced by the reaction of ammonia with hydrobromic acid. It sublimes at 452°C without melting and is hygroscopic in moist air. Its properties as a mild bromide source and nitrogen-containing salt make it useful across photography, electronics, flame retardancy, and medicinal chemistry.

Photography & Printing

In traditional silver halide photography, ammonium bromide is used in developer solutions as a restrainer to reduce fog and control the selectivity of development. It is used in film and paper developers, photographic fixers, and in toning solutions to produce bromide prints. In printing, it has been used in photoengraving processes for producing printing plates and in specialty inks and coatings.

Flame Retardants & Electronics

Ammonium bromide functions as a flame retardant for textiles, plastics, and paper products, releasing bromine radicals that interrupt combustion chain reactions. In electronics manufacturing, it is used in flux formulations for soldering printed circuit boards, where it improves wetting and removes metal oxide films from surfaces. It is also used in the manufacture of bromide-containing compounds for specialty applications.

Chemical Synthesis & Medicinal Uses

Ammonium bromide serves as a convenient bromide ion source in organic synthesis for the preparation of alkyl bromides and organobromide intermediates. Historically it was used as a sedative and anticonvulsant under the name bromide of ammonia. Today it is used as an excipient in some pharmaceutical formulations and as a precursor to other ammonium and bromide compounds in chemical manufacturing.