What Are the Most Common Platinum Group Alloys?
The platinum group metals (PGMs) consist of six chemically and physically similar elements: platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), and osmium (Os). These metals are often alloyed with each other and with other elements to create materials with specific properties for various industrial and other applications.
Some of the most common alloys of PGMs include:
Platinum-Rhodium Alloys
Platinum-rhodium alloys are commonly used in the production of thermocouples, which are temperature sensors. They are also used in the manufacture of crucibles and other high-temperature equipment due to their excellent resistance to high temperatures and corrosion.
Palladium Alloys
Palladium is often alloyed with other metals such as silver, gold, and copper to create various jewelry items. Palladium-silver alloys are used in electrical contacts and connectors. Palladium-nickel alloys are used in hydrogen purification and storage applications.
Iridium-Osmium Alloys
Iridium and osmium are often alloyed with each other to create extremely hard and corrosion-resistant materials. These alloys find applications in electrical contacts, spark plugs, and fountain pen nibs.
Ruthenium Alloys
Ruthenium is alloyed with other metals to improve their hardness, corrosion resistance, and electrical conductivity. It is used in electrical contacts, where it can enhance the performance of switches and connectors.
Platinum Alloys
Platinum is alloyed with other metals such as copper and cobalt to create materials with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties. Platinum-cobalt alloys, for example, are used in the production of magnetic recording media.
Platinum-Iridium Alloys
The alloy of platinum and iridium, known as "platinum-iridium," is particularly notable for its high density and resistance to corrosion. This alloy has historically been used to manufacture the standard kilogram weight and the International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK).
These are just a few examples of common alloys of platinum group metals. The choice of alloy composition depends on the specific properties required for a given application, such as hardness, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and more. These metals and their alloys have a wide range of industrial uses, from catalysis and electronics to jewelry and scientific instruments.
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