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PGMs

What Are Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) And Where Do I Use Them?

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  • PGM’s refer to the ‘platinum group metals’
     

  • There are six PGMs: palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium
     

  • Catalysts: petroleum refining, petrochemical processing, air pollution control (mobile for gasoline & diesel vehicles & stationary abatement)
     

  • Electronics: computer hard drives, fuel cells, thermocouples, multilayer ceramic capacitors, plasma display screens, touch-pads on all hand-held devices (iPads, iPhones and similar products)
     

  • Glass: for flat-screen tv’s, fiberglass, sputtering targets for reflective coatings on windows
     

  • Automobile manufacturing; air bags, anti-lock brakes, spark plugs, oxygen sensors
     

  • Jet engines; turbine blades
     

  • Dental alloys
     

  • Sulphuric acid manufacturing
     

  • Medical: cancer fighting drugs, stents for blocked arteries, pacemakers, implanted defibrillators.

 

Where Are PGMs Produced?

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  • Approximately 70% of the world’s supply comes from South Africa
     

  • Approximately 20% comes from Russia
     

  • The balance comes from a handful of mines in North America & from recycling

 

Specific Issues for PGMs

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  • PGM’s are highly critical & key components in the above sectors, plus many more. There are no effective substitutes that provide the same cost-effective performance as the PGMs.
     

  • A supply disruption will dramatically & negatively impact all, affecting people around the world and disrupting our entire modern way of life.

 

Applications

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