Alloys & industrial crucibles

The high temperature stability, melting points and corrosion resistance of platinum, rhodium, and iridium and their alloys allow for higher temperatures to be achieved in industrial crucibles, which are used in virtually every industrial process.

The "nobility" of PGMs is also crucial. High purity conditions are required for these processes and the PGMs, with their high temperature stability, do not contaminate the products being fabricated.

PGMs can have a quite remarkable effect on other metals. For example, titanium's corrosion resistance is boosted a hundred times by the addition of just 0.1% of ruthenium. This gives titanium an even more effective and durable role in aerospace and marine applications where resistance to extremes of temperature and salt water is crucial.

Applications for alloys between the PGMs include fuel cells, industrial crucibles and tools, and jewellery. Products produced in such ways include crystals, glass, and glass fibre.

Crystal growth

A variety of crystals are grown by several different techniques. The principal method of growth involves the pulling of a single crystal from a pool of molten salts contained in the crucible. Due to its high melting point and resistance to chemical attack, iridium is the preferred material for crucibles used in the production of high purity single crystals of various metal oxides, which have applications in laser technology as well as medical, petroleum, and security industries.

Laser technology relies upon high-quality crystals and their optical and electronic qualities and has a range of applications.

In industry its uses include drilling, cutting, engraving, welding, sensing and measurement. In medicine: eyesight correction, cosmetic procedures and non-invasive surgery are amongst its applications.