Platinum group metals are mainly used as jewelry in the early stage, but have been widely used in petroleum, automobile, electronics, chemical industry, atomic energy and environmental protection since the 1950s. They are in these industry dosage is not big, but having crucial effect, reason is known as "industry vitamin" say. Platinum is the most versatile and can be used alone or in combination with other platinum group metals. Platinum can be used as catalyst to produce nitric acid and high quality aviation gasoline. The contact point and platinum rhodium thermocouple, platinum iridium spark plug electrode for electrical and electronic industry; Platinum crucible used in glass industry; In the defense industry, launch fuels such as hydrogen peroxide catalysts and fuel cell electrodes for the world's aircraft can be made. Palladium is mainly used as low current contact point and catalyst in chemical industry. Palladium alloy tubes can be used as dispersion equipment for purification. Rhodium has a high reflectivity to the visible spectrum, so it can be used as a reflective mirror; Iridium, osmium and ruthenium are used as additives for platinum and palladium to improve their hardness, tensile strength, corrosion resistance and melting point. Iridium's wear resistance allows it to be used as the tip of a pen. Detailed USES of pGE metals are shown in the table below. Platinum group elements are most commonly used by catalysts and the car industry. In 1996, these two major users accounted for 35.8% and 28% of the global consumption of 143T platinum group metals. The amount of precious metal used as catalyst for car exhaust purification increases rapidly. The world now produces more than 50 million cellular catalysts a year, each requiring 1.2g of pGE. In 1993, the only item spent platinum 53T, palladium 22t, rhodium 11t, a total of 86T, accounting for the platinum and palladium industry consumption of 50%, rhodium consumption of 90%. In recent years, the use of cheaper palladium-containing catalysts to replace platinum-palladium-rhodium ternary catalysts is being discussed.
The main use of platinum group metals and their alloys is to make catalysts. Platinum-rhodium alloy has special corrosion resistance to fused glass and can be used to make glass fiber crucible. Platinum - iridium, platinum - rhodium and platinum - palladium alloys have high resistance to arc burn and are used as electrical contact alloys, which is one of the main USES of platinum. Due to the stable chemical properties of platinum, pure platinum, platinum rhodium alloy or platinum iridium alloy made of test utensils such as crucible, electrode, resistance wire and so on are essential in the chemical laboratory. Platinum-cobalt alloy is a machined hard magnetic material with high magnetic energy. Platinum and platinum alloys are widely used in all kinds of jewelry, especially diamond rings, watch cases and brooches. Platinum or palladium alloys are also used as dental materials. Platinum, palladium and rhodium can be used as electroplating, and is commonly used in the electronics industry and jewelry processing. In recent years, titanium anodes coated with ruthenium and platinum have replaced the graphite anodes in the electrolytic cell, improved the electrolytic power and extended the electrode longevity, which is an important skill improvement in the chlor-alkali industry and provides a new way for the application of Ruthenium in industry. Osmium - iridium alloy can be used to make nib and stylus. Palladium alloys are also used in purification materials and high temperature brazing solder. Platinum coating equipment is also used in chemical industry.
