Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a 6-Part Series on PGMs that runs on Tuesdays.
The versatile platinum group metals (PGMs)—platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium—can be found in products we use every day, such as catalytic converters, drugs and medical devices, and many, many electronic devices.
Platinum and ruthenium are in your computer and in the glass of your computer screen. If you’re grateful for the huge amount of data storage capacity you now have in your modern-day computer, you can thank platinum. Each hard drive contains one or more platters or disks where data is stored on the magnetic surfaces. The strength of the magnetic field generated by the surface layer determines how much data can be recorded on a given surface. Adding platinum to the cobalt magnetic alloy enhances the magnetic properties of the surface and therefore its storage capacity. More and more platinum is being used in the manufacture of hard disks to keep up with the increasing demand for more storage, such that the proportion of platinum in the magnetic alloy has gone from less than 10% in 2002 to 35% in 2007.
Palladium is also a major player in the electronics industry; it is used in virtually every kind of electronic device, from basic consumer products to complex military hardware. Although individual electronic components contain only a minute amount of the metal, palladium is in great demand due to the sheer volume of products made with it. According to the International Platinum Group Metals Association, in the electronics sector, most palladium is used for multi-layer ceramic (chip) capacitors (MLCC). MLCCs store energy in electronic devices such as broadcasting equipment, mobile telephones, computers, electronic lighting and high voltage circuits. Smaller amounts of palladium are used in conductive tracks in hybrid integrated circuits (HIC) and for plating connectors and lead frames.
There are many other examples of PGMs in the electronics industry. Here are a few of them:
- Platinum, palladium, rhodium and iridium are used to coat electrodes, the tiny components in all electronic products which help to control the flow of electricity.
- Palladium is contained in most microprocessors and printed circuit boards.
- Platinum is used to make fiberglass, liquid-crystal display (LCD) glass and flat-panel displays, and cathode ray tubes. PGM equipment is used to make ceramic glass.
As discussed in a previous blog, naturally-occurring PGMs are extremely rare, so recycling PGMs from electronic products is an increasingly important source of these strategic metals. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an estimated 155,000 kilograms of PGMs was recovered globally from new and old scrap in 2013, including about 56,000 kilograms of PGMs in North America.
Despite efforts to increase awareness, recycling consumer products remains a challenge, as these electronics recycling statistics from the U.S. EPA: indicate:
- 438 million electronic devices were sold in 2009.
- In the same year, U.S. consumers and businesses discarded televisions, computers, cell phones and hard copy peripherals (including printers, scanners, faxes) totaling 2.37 million tons.
- Approximately only 25% of these discarded electronic products were collected for recycling, with the remainder disposed of primarily in landfills, where the precious metals cannot be recovered.
- An estimated 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered for every million cell phones recycled.
Metal recovery starts with a process to separate out the precious metals from the electronics components. Once extracted, the metal must be refined and analyzed to determine the percentage of recovered metal and to be certain it is pure enough for electronic applications. Wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) technology is well established for this type of analysis because it offers high sensitivity down to low atomic number elements, high repeatability and element selectivity. WDXRF is also favored for its wide dynamic range and ability to achieve the performance levels needed for routine industrial applications.
Automotive catalytic converters (ACCs) play an essential rol...
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FAQs
Platinum, palladium, rhodium and iridium are used to coat electrodes, the tiny components in all electronic products which help to control the flow of electricity. Palladium is contained in most microprocessors and printed circuit boards.
How is platinum used in electronics? ›
The electronics industry uses platinum to make electrodes, electrical contacts for computer hard disks and thermocouples. It is also used to make optical fibres and LCDs, turbine blades and spark plugs, and in an alloy with cobalt it is used to produce strong, permanent magnets.
What is a main use of platinum-group metals? ›
Properties and uses
Apart from their application in jewellery, platinum metals are also used in anticancer drugs, industries, dentistry, electronics, and vehicle exhaust catalysts (VECs).
How is palladium used in electronics? ›
Electronics. The primary application of palladium in electronics is in multi-layer ceramic capacitors in which palladium (and palladium-silver alloy) is used for electrodes. Palladium (sometimes alloyed with nickel) is or can be used for component and connector plating in consumer electronics and in soldering materials ...
What are the uses of platinum metal? ›
Platinum is used in the chemicals industry as a catalyst for the production of nitric acid, silicone and benzene. It is also used as a catalyst to improve the efficiency of fuel cells. The electronics industry uses platinum for computer hard disks and thermocouples.
What is the application of platinum in electrical? ›
Electrical Applications of Platinum Wire
Developing energy technologies and power storage solutions rely on platinum wiring for PEM fuel cells, catalysts, and more. Some of the most common electrical components that make use of platinum wiring include: Contact points. Fiber optics.
Is platinum used in wiring? ›
Durable, flexible, and inert in even the most challenging working conditions, platinum is routinely deployed for precision wiring applications. The transitional metal's malleability makes it relatively easy to work despite its high density.
What is the electronic configuration of platinum group metals? ›
Platinum is a d-block element having atomic number 78. The group number and period number of Platinum are 10 and 6 respectively. Therefore, the electronic configuration of Pt is [ Xe ] 4 f 14 5 d 9 6 s 1 .
Why is platinum used as an electrode? ›
Two platinum electrodes - commonly used in the standard hydrogen electrode. Platinum is an inert metal that is capable of easily absorbing hydrogen. The platinum electrodes do not participate in redox reactions while the cell is working, unlike other metals (such as iron, which can easily oxidize).
What is the most common use for platinum? ›
The most common Pt(I) complexes have square planar structures and are diamagnetic. Because of its inertness and attractive appearance, one of the major uses of platinum is in the manufacture of jewelry. Gold platinum alloys, referred to as white gold, are widely used in dentistry and in the making of jewelry.
Platinum is used for electrical connections on the circuit board.
Where can I find platinum in electronics? ›
The electronics you use daily, from the display on your smartphone to the hard drive in your computer, contain platinum. Nearly every piece of electronic equipment in your office has a component that contains platinum.
Is there platinum in circuit boards? ›
Valuable & Precious metals – where they are in Computers:
Platinum – Hard Drives, Circuit board components. Palladium – Hard Drives, Circuit board components (capacitors) Copper – CPU heat sinks, wiring and cables, Printed Circuit Boards, Computer Chips.
Why are platinum group metals important? ›
Because they can be used to catalyse chemical and fuel-processing reactions, they can greatly reduce the financial and environmental costs of many industrial processes. The PGM are platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), osmium (Os) and iridium (Ir).
What is the use of platinum in electric cars? ›
Platinum is one of the most effective and durable catalysts, enabling chemical reactions, which is why it is used as a catalyst in fuel cell technology.
Why is platinum used in magnets? ›
Although they are paramagnetic, the platinum metals, espe- cially platinum, palladium, and rhodium, are capable of interacting in alloys with other metals to form ferromagnetic or very nearly ferromagnetic materials.
How is platinum used in a cell phone? ›
Platinum is used for electrical connections on the circuit board.
Where is platinum used in a computer? ›
Valuable & Precious metals – where they are in Computers:
Platinum – Hard Drives, Circuit board components. Palladium – Hard Drives, Circuit board components (capacitors) Copper – CPU heat sinks, wiring and cables, Printed Circuit Boards, Computer Chips. Nickel – Circuit board components.
Does platinum carry electricity? ›
Platinum is an element with high electrical conductivity and is more ductile than gold, silver, or copper. It is less malleable than gold.
Why is platinum used in electrical contacts? ›
Platinum is used for electrical contacts and sparking points because it resists both the high temperatures and chemical attack of electric arcs. Jewelry and dental alloys account for much of its use; platinum-iridium is used for surgical pins.
Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a 6-Part Series on PGMs that runs on Tuesdays.
