![]() ![]() The stronger demand picture is based on expectations of an economic rebound, as well as anticipation that demand for hydrogen will increase use of iridium. The closure for several months last year of a processing facility run by Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) in South Africa created a supply shortfall just as the demand outlook improved, analysts at Heraeus Precious Metals said. The line can reduce quantities of impurities to 1/10 to provide high-quality iridium products unavailable from our competitors.“You’ve got increasing concerns on supply and very weak liquidity in the market,” said Emma Townshend, an executive at Impala Platinum, which mines the metal. This purification line can reduce the content of base metals as well as other platinum group metals (Ru, Pt, Pd, Rh, etc.), and there is no other technology like it. If the material does not exceed 99.95% purity, we turn it over to our refining (recycling) line to produce high-purity iridium. We analyze raw material iridium powder to determine whether or not it can be used to make crucibles. Generally speaking, iridium powder is usually high in impurities and some materials cannot be used as they are. Raw material iridium is typically obtained from mines in South Africa. Moreover, impurities in crucibles can affect the end products made using these crucibles (elution into crystals, discoloring, and other defects), so every effort must be made to minimize these impurities. Impurities can lead to cracks that form in the crucible manufacturing process, and these defects can adversely affect crucible yield rates, as well as significantly reducing the service life of the crucibles used by our customers. Impurities have a large impact on the iridium crucible production process, as well as on the quality achieved in iridium crucibles themselves. Our recycling process is needed not only to achieve high-purity iridium, but also for the electrical and electronics industries in particular, in which high-purity materials are needed. At Furuya Metal, we have craftsmen who have accumulated more than ten years of experience in iridium welding who are able to perform the kind of high-quality welding that sets us apart from other companies.įuruya Metal was the first company in Japan to set up a complete iridium recycling system. And also due to its high melting point, it is extremely difficult to weld iridium and it takes much training to be able to do so. Since the melting point of iridium is over 2400℃, in contrast to other metals (such as aluminum with its 660℃ melting point, or iron at 1540℃), special melting equipment such as the plasma melting furnace is needed. Special skills and a lot of practice are required to weld iridium at temperatures nearly 1000℃ above the melting point of iron. These sheets undergo a number of production steps, including machining, to make parts which are then made into final products using welding techniques.Īlthough automation technology is used for welding, as well, manual welding by skilled craftsmen is basically what is needed to make these products. ![]() Iridium forging and rolling is performed under high-precision temperature control to produce sheets of the required size. For one thing, it is virtually impossible to cold roll iridium, and all manufacturing steps must be performed at high temperatures of at least 1000℃. These properties make it an extremely useful material, but iridium has its weak points, including the fact that it is hard and brittle. As a result, iridium is very difficult to process, and requires special processing techniques. Iridium has high corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, strength at high temperatures, and other properties not found in other metals.
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