What is common uses of iridium and its applications?

What is common uses of iridium? Iridium is a silvery-white metal that belongs to the platinum group of elements. Except for nickel, iridium is the densest naturally occurring element, which makes it possible to use it as ballast in aircraft and other vehicles. Iridium is one of the most precious metals on Earth; therefore, its uses are limited to those which require its special properties. For example, this metal is often added to platinum because of its ability to form finely divided alloys with gold and other metals without an appreciable loss in strength or weight.

Common uses of iridium

Below are some common uses of iridium

1. Chemical

Iridium is used in catalysts for some chemical reactions, for example the hydrogenation of ethylene to ethylene glycol. Iridium is also used with rhodium and platinum in catalytic converters because it more effectively removes pollutants (such as nitrogen oxides) than either of these metals alone. It is also used to produce very hard alloys that hold their edge well when used as a cutting tool. Iridium also finds use in the electronics industry as it resists corrosion. For example, some disc drives use a layer of iridium to protect the moving parts from corrosion.

2. Radioactive

Iridium is used in the production of neptunium and plutonium isotopes for atomic weapons and satellites. Iridium compounds are used to stabilize radioactive left-over material during reprocessing of nuclear waste at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in England. Iridium-192 and iridium-192m are two nuclear employs of iridium as a fuel for fast neutrons that convert uranium oxide into other types of solid fuels (e.g., plutonium oxide).

3. Medical

Iridium is used in handpieces and other instruments for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy. A source of neutron radiation, iridium-192 or iridium-192m is usually used as the radiation emitter in these devices. To protect patients from the harmful effects of their exposure, an iridium alloy shield may be deposited between the patient and the radiation source. It provides shielding to reduce dosage required per irradiation time and to avoid damaging tissue in cases where radiation exposure is excessive.

4. Military

Iridium is used to strengthen materials for armor plating and knife blades. While it is also used in other parts of the military machinery, especially as a neutron source. Iridium-192 or iridium-192m is often used in weapons because, while other isotopes such as uranium or plutonium have shorter half lives than iridium (about 4 days), they are fissile enough to produce a nuclear explosion.

5. Communication

What is common uses of iridium? Iridium alloy wire is used in phone cables and wires for power transmission and signaling at high frequencies (1-300 MHz). Iridium alloy fiber optic cable is used by both phone companies and computer networks. Iridium can also be used in satellite communication and radar.

6. Electronic

Iridium is also useful in optical devices because of its unique properties, such as its high refractive index. One example is an optical glass made by bonding iridium oxide into a layer approximately 1 micrometer thick. Another is the use of iridium-based glass lenses in cameras to filter out infrared light.

7. Energy

Iridium is often used in nuclear energy applications. For example, reactor fuel is alloyed with iridium to make it able to withstand higher temperatures as a result of absorbing quantized vibrational energy from gamma rays emitted by fission products. Iridium is also used as a coating for other metals that need to be resistant to neutron damage. Its isotope, iridium-192, is used in some radioisotope thermoelectric generators.

8. Transportation

Iridium is widely used in the aviation industry. Ballast keels in the cavities of propellers and rudders are usually made of iridium. An iridium alloy is used to delay the deformation of turbine blades and vanes in a high-temperature environment. For example, hot air from a gas-fired power plant turbine passes through a duct built with an iridium alloy. This heat resistant property makes it possible for blades to be thinner than usual and reduces their weight. As a result, it is possible to increase engine efficiency. Iridium alloys are also used in the fabrication of rocket nozzles and many other aerospace materials where they prevent corrosion by oxidation at high temperatures.

Conclusion

What is common uses of iridium? The above are some common use of iridium and this article is not intended to be a detailed discussion but only an introduction to the uses of iridium.