Application of Corrosion Resistant Materials

Iridium based crucibles are often used to mold or strengthen metals with heat. The hardened metal can then be used in heavy duty applications, and its resistance to heat means it can be utilized as a crucible to hold objects where materials can be melted at high temperatures. Iridium may be combined with platinum to give it extra hardness. And it is these properties that allow manufacturers to use iridium in various applications. Unlike gold, iridium isn’t reactive so it works well with other components. At its purest level the metal is brittle, but you can combine it with other metals and enhance its strength. Iridium not only has high melting and boiling points, but at room temperature iridium is solid. In fact iridium was utilized in encapsulating fuel in the Pioneer, Galileo, Voyager and Viking spacecraft. The iridium melting point is 2000 C, and this makes it suitable for heat producing generators. The corrosion resistant nature of iridium also makes it a useful addition to components that require strength. Those are usually made of titanium and iridium alloy which extends their lifespan and increases durability. Corrosion ResistanceĪs mentioned earlier, iridium is resistant to corrosion, and that is what makes it ideal for ships, sea vessels and pipes. Yes, this metal is difficult to melt and form, but it can be used in various sectors and industries. There is a misconception that iridium is hard to use and that is not true. This resulted in lowering of demand for iridium in the LED market, but the metal is still being used in other industries in the manufacture and processing of other products. In the ensuing years, companies discovered other materials that could be used for making LED screens. By using iridium, manufacturers found it easier to create LED screens. It was during the late 2000s that demand for smartphones, tablets and flatscreen TVs boomed, and what they all shared in common was the use of LED screens. The reason for the surge was the skyrocketing popularity of LED screens where this metal is used. It was during 2009 that demand for iridium really started to go up, and from 2009 to 2010 the need doubled from 2 to 4 tons. However it was not until the late 2000s that iridium took off and people started to take notice, and the metal has not looked back. So rare in fact, that some scientists speculate that this chemical element originated from space.īut regardless where iridium originated there is no questioning its value. This chemical element is more corrosion resistant than any other metal, and it also happens to be one of the rarest.

Not a lot of people are familiar with iridium, but it’s one of the most widely used metals today.

Is iridium a metal