 What are the primary uses and applications for palladium?
What are the common properties of PGM Metals?
| Q. |
What are the primary uses and applications for palladium? |
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| A. |
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| The manufacture of autocatalysts continues to be the primary use for palladium, with its consumption comprising upwards of 50% of estimated global demand. |
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2007 Estimated Palladium Demand
by Industry (8,226 Koz)*
* CPM Group, 2007 Platinum Year Book |
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| Palladium is also used in the following industries: |
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| Electronics – multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), computer hard disks, electronic components (14% of demand). |
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| Other (chemical) – catalyst gauze for nitric acid, catalysts for silicones, electrode coatings, process catalysts (3% of demand). |
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| Dental – alloys for dental restoration (13% of demand). |
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| Jewellery – used independently for fabrication, or with platinum and gold, offering better casting and machining properties (14% of demand). |
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| Q. |
What are the common properties of PGM Metals? |
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| A. |
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The six platinum group metals (PGMs) are chemically very similar. Platinum, iridium and osmium are the densest known metals, platinum being 11 per cent denser than gold and about twice the weight of the same volume of silver or lead. Palladium, rhodium and ruthenium are lighter, palladium having about the same density as silver.
Platinum and Palladium are soft, ductile and resistant to oxidation and high temperature corrosion. They have widespread catalytic uses. In industry they are often used with the addition of other metals, including other pgms.
Rhodium and Iridium are difficult to work, but are valuable alone as well as in alloys. Their chemical compounds have many uses, and rhodium is a particularly good catalyst.
Ruthenium and Osmium are hard, brittle and almost unworkable in the metallic state, with poor oxidation resistance, but are valuable as additions to other metals, usually other pgm, and as catalysts. |
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Platinum |
Palladium |
Rhodium |
| Chemical symbol |
Pt |
Pd |
Rh |
| Density (g/cm3) |
21.45 |
12.02 |
12.41 |
| Melting point (°C) |
1,769 |
1,554 |
1,960 |
| Vickers hardness no.* |
41 |
41 |
101 |
| Electrical resistivity (microhm.cm at 0°C) |
9.85 |
9.93 |
4.33 |
| Thermal conductivity (watts/metre/°C) |
73 |
76 |
150 |
| Tensile strength* (kg/mm2) |
14 |
17 |
71 |
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Iridium |
Ruthenium |
Osmium |
| Chemical symbol |
Ir |
Ru |
Os |
| Density (g/cm3) |
22.65 |
12.45 |
22.61 |
| Melting point (°C) |
2,443 |
2,310 |
3,050 |
| Vickers hardness no.* |
220 |
240 |
350 |
| Electrical resistivity (microhm.cm at 0°C) |
4.71 |
6.80 |
8.12 |
| Thermal conductivity (watts/metre/°C) |
148 |
105 |
87 |
| Tensile strength* (kg/mm2) |
112 |
165 |
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