A chain antimony oxide fine particle group comprising antimony oxide fine
particles which have an average particle diameter of 5 to 50 nm, are
connected in the form of a chain and have an average connection number of
2 to 30 and preferably used for forming a hard coating film. The fine
particle group can be prepared by a process comprising treating an alkali
antimonate aqueous solution with a cation exchange resin to prepare an
antimonic acid (gel) dispersion and then treating the dispersion with an
anion exchange resin and/or adding a base to the dispersion. Also
provided is a substrate with a film comprising a substrate and a hard
coating film. The hard coating film includes a chain inorganic oxide fine
particle group, in which inorganic oxide fine particles of 2 to 30 on the
average are connected in the form of a chain, and a matrix. The inorganic
oxide particles may be silica particles, silica-alumina particles being
preferable, and porous particles and/or hollow particles having a cavity
inside being more preferable.