AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Cobalt price per pound today11/9/2023 It was only in 1970, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Clean Air Act, that demand for platinum groups metals (platinum, rhodium, palladium) began to grow. Because of this rhodium plated jewelry is seen as an option. One of the metals in the alloy can be nickel. White gold is a mixture of yellow gold with other metals, creating an alloy that is stronger than pure yellow gold, which gives white gold itself characteristic color. For jewelry that has a higher tendency for wear, such as necklaces and bracelets, plated rhodium will wear down much faster and require more frequent re-plating.įor people with nickel allergies, a benefit of rhodium plated jewelry is that it is hypoallergenic. Even though rhodium plated jewelry is more scratch resistant, the rhodium plate can wear off and will require a re-application every couple of years. With its increased durability, rhodium plated jewelry is more resistant to scratching and in the case of silver it helps to prevent tarnishing as rhodium does not oxidize very easily. Due to its silvery-white appearance, white metal (white gold or platinum jewelry) is primarily used for rhodium plating. Its physical properties increase the shine, luster, and durability of the rhodium plated metal. Rhodium plating gives jewelry a silvery-white, reflective appearance and will not irritate the skin, as other metals can. Due to its scarcity, high melting point temperature and poor malleability compared to other precious metals, rhodium is used as plating in jewelry-making. Throughout history precious metals such as gold and silver, and in modern times platinum and palladium, were used to create jewelry. In the 1970's rhodium began being used in the production of the three-way catalytic converter, increasing demand. This precious metal has historically been used as a finishing for jewelry, including in present times. Throughout history there has been little need for rhodium as a commodity. Rhodium, from rodo (Greek word for rose), was named based on the color of some of its compounds. While developing a process to refine platinum, Wollaston came to incidentally discover both palladium and rhodium. Rhodium was first discovered by William Hyde Wollaston, an English chemist and physicist. Recycling supplies about 30% of annual rhodium production. Recycling of catalytic converters from scrapped vehicles is another important source of rhodium. Rhodium and other platinum group metals occur uncombined in nature, as well, in North and South America in river sands. Russia, Zimbabwe and Canada are the three other top producers, but in far lower quantities. South Africa is the majority source of rhodium making up over 80% of total mined rhodium. Rhodium is also less commonly used as electrical contacts, laboratory crucibles, and in the electrodes of aircraft spark plugs. Aside from catalytic converters, some applications using rhodium are as a catalyst for nitric acid, in themocouples, and to coat optic fibers and optic mirrors. Its efficiency as a catalyst for converting NO x to N 2 and O 2 is the primary driver of rhodium demand, accounting for approximately 80% of demand. Because of this, Rhodium is considered the world's most expensive precious metal. Being primarily found in ore bodies combined with platinum, palladium, gold and copper-nickel ores, rhodium is most often produced as a byproduct of nickel and platinum refining.ĭue to its rarity, the price of rhodium far exceeds that of other platinum group metals and any other precious metal, such as gold and silver. It is both highly resistant to corrosion and highly reflective. Rhodium, abbreviated Rh, is a silver-white metallic element belonging to the platinum group. Rhodium is the most valuable of the platinum group metals.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |