However, corrosion-resistance is not quantifiable in absolute terms: although only certain molten salts and halogens are corrosive to solid iridium, finely divided iridium dust is much more reactive and can be flammable, whereas gold dust is not flammable but can be attacked by substances that iridium resists, such as aqua regia. It is one of the most corrosion-resistant metals, even at temperatures as high as 2,000 ☌ (3,630 ☏). A very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum group, it is considered the second-densest naturally occurring metal (after osmium) with a density of 22.56 g/cm 3 (0.815 lb/cu in) as defined by experimental X-ray crystallography. Our price forecast is optimistic in the medium and long term, and we see it as a valuable hard asset in a mixed rare earths & technology metals portfolio.Iridium is a chemical element it has symbol Ir and atomic number 77. The price of indium rose sharply in 2021 (+51%), with a small correction in 2022 (-7%) followed by another healthy increase last year (+27%). We expect the demand for indium to keep growing steadily while the supply will be constrained in short to medium term. China already started with export bans to the West on gallium and germanium in August 2023, a move that saw prices for these vital resources increase. This might become even more pronounced in light of China using export quotas on rare earths and strategic metals as leverage during trade disputes with other countries. After satisfying its own demand, it has the power to determine how much is exported elsewhere. Only 920 metric tons of indium were produced worldwide in 2021, and it is on the “Critical Raw Materials List” in both the US (since 2018) and Europe (since 2020).Ĭhina has a dominant influence on the global supply of indium. Due to this, predicting long-term demand for indium is difficult as the possible industries using it have yet to be definitively known. Its unique properties also mean that indium has many new yet undefined applications. Demand for products such as photovoltaic cells, smartphones, planes, cancer treatment devices, cars, and LCDs will continue to rise, especially with the growing middle class in emerging economies like China and India. With its remarkable capacity for strength and flexibility, indium has established itself as an invaluable component in a large variety of industries. For example, indium can seal non-wettable surfaces in cryogenic applications, vacuum pumps, and heat-sensitive areas. Due to its softness and compressibility, indium is ideal for creating robust hermetic seals between metals or non-metallics like glass and ceramics. Its low reactivity makes indium an ideal choice as an inert atmosphere filler its low vapor pressure also makes it a great preservative agent in vacuum systems or gas lines. Moreover, indium is biocompatible in many cases, making it useful for medical implants to prevent tissue invasion of foreign elements. Indium also plays an important part in cancer treatment because it can be inserted directly into tumors with radiation due to its low cost compared to alternative isotopes. Regarding medical applications, Indium-111 can be labeled with technetium-99m to help diagnose certain diseases in the body’s organs. Its thermal properties also make it ideal for use in refrigerators and other cooling systems. Its natural lubrication benefits make indium salts a viable option for cosmetics and protective coating for aircraft components. Solar cells and smartphone displays also use indium sulfide. Indium is also responsible for making glass transparent to certain light wavelengths, which makes it useful in LCD televisions, night-vision goggles, and other related technologies. Aerospace engineering and automotive manufacturing successfully use indium alloys. This rare metal is remarkably malleable for its density, which with its low melting point, makes it useful for soldering applications, such as microelectronics. Indium has put its unique properties to work in consumer electronics, industrial manufacturing, mining exploration, medical technology, metallurgy, and transportation. Indium is an essential and versatile element with various uses across many industries.

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