Palladium (Pd): Properties, Alloys, and Industrial Uses

The silver-white precious metal material palladium (Pd), the most active of the platinum metals, belongs to the light platinum metals (density around 12 g/cm³). Unlike platinum, it dissolves in concentrated nitric acid. Pd is alloyable with the majority of metals and has good catalytic properties. It absorbs around 9.5 times its volume of hydrogen at 1000°C. Application: Palladium is used almost exclusively in the form of alloys. The two largest consumption sectors are electrical engineering / electronics with about 50% and the dental sector with 30%. In addition, Pd is used in exhaust gas catalysts in the form of compounds with platinum and in hydrogen diffusion cells. In the jewelry industry palladium serves as an alloy or alloying component z. For white gold (10% to 20% Pd). Furthermore, Pd is used as an alloying additive for fountain pens, spinnerets. Palladium has now prevailed over gold as exclusively used getter material. This was due to its sufficient resistance to the reactor gas, unlimited miscibility with platinum in the solid state, higher melting point and lower price compared to gold. Pd is also used as a contact material. Pd is ductile, corrosion resistant, but tends to form organic polymers (Brown Powder effect). It is machinable, rollable, separable from the gas phase and electrodepositable.

Properties

General

Mechanical

Thermal

Electrical

Chemical properties