How Platinum Is Used in Industrial and Manufacturing Processes

Manufacturing IndustriesPlatinum ScrapRecycle Precious Metals
Written By Barry Lenson

In a recent post on this blog, we explored the many ways that silver is used in manufacturing. Today, let’s explore the many ways that platinum is used too.

You might be surprised to know that platinum, an inert element that resists interacting with other chemicals, plays a central role in manufacturing.

In fact, platinum plays a critical role in many industrial and manufacturing processes. Here is a shortlist. Platinum is used in the production of:

  • Detergents, most notably powerful cleaning agents for industrial and environmental settings.

  • Fertilizers, which are used principally in industrial farming.

  • Plastics and polyester.

  • Explosives, which can contain small amounts of precious metal.

  • Laser-generating crystals are used in both industrial processes and in smaller devices that employ lasers, like disk readers.

  • Medicines to fight cancers and blood diseases.

Yes, platinum is used in all those products. Let’s take a close look at some of these applications.

Automotive Catalysts

For more than 40 years, platinum has been used in the catalytic converters that have been installed on cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. When noxious exhaust from engines that burn either gasoline or diesel are passed through honeycomb-like structures that contain platinum, the metal serves as a catalyst that removes or reduces harmful chemicals.

Note too that similar catalysts are also used in catalytic converters that are installed on industrial generators that are powered by diesel or gasoline. Even in a time when we are moving away from burning fossil fuels, there is still a large demand for platinum to be used in catalysts.

Industrial Catalysts

Just to review, a catalyst is a chemical that is used to start or sustain a chemical reaction between other chemicals or substances. Most commonly, platinum-bearing chemicals are used as catalysts that are used in the production of fertilizers and plastics.

Electrical Devices

You are probably aware that both gold and silver are an integral material that is found in computers, cellphones, televisions, and any kind of electronic device that contains circuit boards.

Yet that is only the beginning. Platinum is also found in many electrical devices that are used to measure what is taking place in industrial and other processes, including medical applications. Platinum is used because when other substances react with it, small amounts of electrical current are generated that can be measured. The result is the ability to accurately monitor a variety of processes. 

Laboratory Equipment

Platinum is the most popular metal used to make crucibles, tongs, vessel stands, and other pieces of equipment that are used in laboratories of all kinds, from medical labs to mining and geological applications.

That helps explain why small laboratory-related items like crucibles are such a good precious metal investment. They are small, easy to collect, and can pay a high return to whomever invests in them. If you have some of these high-value items, contact us and we can recycle them for you!

Medical Applications

Platinum is used in devices that measure cardiac, blood, nerve, and other activity in the body. Platinum is also used in catheters, probes, and other devices that are used to measure cardiac efficiency.

And because platinum is inert and does not react with structures within the human body, it is finding increasing use in stents, pacemakers, and other implantable devices. In addition, platinum is being used in electrodes that are implanted in the brain to help control conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. Such cranial implants are being successfully used more and more often today and as a result, more platinum is finding its way into the human body.

Medicines

Platinum is used to do more than measure what is taking place in our bodies. With increasing frequency, it is being used in medicines too. It is also now part of medicines to treat testicular, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

More and more, medicine is discovering that platinum is a miracle metal that can not only detect diseases but treat a growing number of conditions. It is another fact that will continue to keep the demand for platinum high . . . and growing.

Jewelry

We need to mention that platinum has taken its place alongside gold among the two most popular metals for the manufacture of engagement and wedding rings. Plus, platinum is being plated onto gold jewelry to lend a bright, white, shiny, and corrosion-resistant surface.

Our Advice to You . . . Invest in Platinum!

Platinum is scarce in nature. The demand for it is on the rise. So there is no mistaking the fact that platinum scrap is one of the best precious metal investments out there today.

No matter what kind of platinum scrap you have – lab crucibles, platinum jewelry, industrial shavings, whatever – give us a call at 800-426-2344 and let us help you turn what you have collected into cash. Our precious metal consultants are available to speak with you today.

Barry Lenson
Previous

How International Markets Are Keeping the Demand for Precious Metals High
Next

How Silver Is Used in Industrial and Manufacturing Processes