Palladium is a light precious metal of the platinum group, discovered at the beginning of the XIX century by the English scientist William Wollaston. The unique properties of this noble metal led to its application in various fields of human activity - in the manufacturing sectors, electronics, medicine, jewelry. The article will discuss where else palladium is used, what is made of it, why is it needed.
Jewelry making
Jewelry is one of the main applications of palladium. This exquisite metal has a spectacular silver color that does not fade and does not change over time. Despite the natural plasticity of palladium, its alloys are quite strong, corrosion-resistant and biologically inert materials. In its pure form, palladium is not used to create jewelry. It is quite malleable and soft, which negatively affects the strength of the products and their resistance to mechanical and thermal effects.
In the manufacture of jewelry using strong and durable alloys of palladium and other metals - ruthenium, nickel, silver, copper, gold. The most common in jewelry are alloys of palladium, silver and nickel (sample 500 and 850), as well as alloys with copper (sample 850). The addition of nickel gives the alloy hardness and strength, silver increases its ductility and ductility.
The addition of copper makes the palladium alloy more rigid, but at the same time does not reduce its ductility and ductility.
In foreign countries for the manufacture of jewelry used palladium alloys 950 samples. The noble metal content in these alloys is 95%. In alloys having 500 and 850 samples, the palladium content is usually 44.5-50% and 85%, respectively. The highest palladium content in the product is indicated by 999 samples.
Palladium Gold Alloy - Another popular noble material used by jewelry masters. Such an alloy is better known under the name "white gold", because it has a pronounced silver-white hue with a characteristic metallic luster.
It should be noted that the combination of even a small amount of palladium with gold allows you to get an alloy is not yellow, namely white.
Lightness, ductility, ductility and malleability of palladium alloys allow you to create elegant, thin and voluminous jewelry with a very low weight. These precious alloys are used by jewelers for the manufacture of all kinds of male and female jewelry - earrings, pendants, rings, rings, pendants, bracelets. Palladium chains with intricate openwork weaving look very impressive.
Jewelers argue that the cold and noble brilliance of palladium alloys is able to best emphasize the radiance and crystal transparency of genuine diamonds.
To enhance the metallic sheen of white gold products, their surface is coated with rhodium. For inlaying white gold jewelry, not only diamonds are used, but also many other precious and semiprecious stones - sapphires, rubies, amethysts, onyx, emeralds.
Look original palladium alloy products decorated with unusual enamel inserts. Jewelry made from palladium alloys does not cause allergies, does not leave dark marks on the skin, does not lose its bright shine and presentable appearance over time, does not scratch or deform. Moreover, the natural compliance of the described metal allows, if necessary, to easily adjust the size and thickness of the products.
Industrial application
Significant share of palladium mined in developed countriesused in mechanical engineering. This strong and light metal is used in the manufacture of automotive catalysts. As a functional part of the car’s exhaust system, the catalysts neutralize volatile toxic waste generated during the afterburning of exhaust gases.
Used palladium and in the chemical industrywhere it is used as a catalyst in the processing of oil and oil fractions. Using catalytic cracking of oil, in which this metal is used, high-quality gasoline and gas oil are obtained - a product necessary for the preparation of fuels and lubricants, diesel, boiler and marine fuels.
Palladium catalysts used in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils - a complex chemical process during which trans isomers of fatty acids (trans fats) are formed. They represent a special group of artificial unsaturated fats, widely used in the food industry. Pure palladium and its alloys are actively used in hydrogen energy. Membranes made of this metal pass hydrogen atoms and isotopes through themselves, contributing to its deep purification.
Scientists consider purified hydrogen as an alternative type of environmentally friendly, economical and highly efficient fuel in the future.
In the glass industry this noble metal and its alloys are used in the manufacture of glass melting equipment and spinneret feeders. And also industrial crucibles are made from it - special containers for melting, firing, heating or burning various materials.
It should be noted that the melting point of palladium is about 1554 ° C.
For this reason, industrial glass melting crucibles made of palladium alloys are able to withstand the effects of very high temperatures (up to 1500-1600 ° C.) And they are also characterized high impact resistance and resistance to aggressive chemicals. The surfaces of such crucibles do not react with the processed material during heating.
Other manufacturing industries that use parts and components made using palladium:
- Atomic industry;
- food industry;
- mining;
- metallurgy.
Use in electronics
Palladium is used in the manufacture of various electronic and radio parts - capacitors, rheochords, resistors, printed circuit boards. This metal and alloys based on it are coated with electrical contacts that require protection against corrosion, dust, and mechanical stress. Contact parts coated with a palladium alloy do not spark and withstand voltage surges.
Electronic parts and components, in the manufacture of which palladium is used, are used in aerospace and military equipment, video, television and radio equipment, in telephones, computers, computing devices, and high-precision measuring instruments.
In the manufacture of modern technology, computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices, palladium and its alloys are used in small quantities (due to the high cost of metal).
Life and medicine
The described metal and alloys based on it in Soviet times were used to manufacturing parts of various household appliances and devices - radios, tube televisions, VCRs, calculators. In modern household appliances, such parts are not used - they are successfully replaced by analogues from cheaper and no less durable materials.
In the medical field, palladium and its alloys used primarily for the manufacture of surgical instruments and precision equipment. This durable metal is used in the creation of functional parts for pacemakers and electrocardiographs, sterilizers, thermostats, defibrillators, portable gas analyzers, electronic scales.
Palladium alloys are made frames of durable ceramic-metal dentures. The wear resistance, strength and reliability of such dental structures is due to the high corrosion resistance, chemical and biological inertness of the metal used.
Palladium alloys are used in the manufacture of laboratory and medical instruments and accessories. The heat resistance of this metal, chemical inertness and corrosion resistance allow it to be used for the manufacture of parts for distillation apparatuses, laboratory pumps, dental and surgical instruments. Palladium 103 is an artificial isotope used in oncology for the treatment of malignant tumors.
During contact radiation therapy, this radioactive isotope is introduced into the affected organ, from where it subsequently acts directly on the tumor site and the cancer cells concentrated in it.
other methods
Palladium found application in monetary business. Out of him souvenir and collection coins are produced, issued in strictly limited quantities. It is noteworthy that most often the real value of such coins significantly exceeds the nominal (indicated on the obverse or reverse).
In some countries, this precious metal is used. as an object of investment. To make a profit, the owner must open a special OMS bank account (an anonymized metal account), which will accrue interest income or income received as a result of the increase in the value of the described metal in the world market.
In the next video, a partial demonstration of palladium refining awaits you.
