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# Materials of Interest

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Alloys  |  Metals  |  Miscellaneous Non-Metals  |  Rare Earths  |  Ores and Compounds  |  Precious Metals

## Alloys

Aluminum-Lithium Alloy

**Material Description**Aluminum is a silver-white metal with a high strength to weight ratio. The addition of a small amount of The addition of a small amount of lithium (between 1.0 and 1.8% for the third alloy generation) improves the mechanical properties of aluminum by reducing the density of the alloy and increasing its elastic modulus (strength).**Uses of aluminum-lithium?**
                                - Structural airframe material for aircraft and spacecraft

Beryllium Copper Master Alloy

**Material Description****Uses of BCMA? **                                - Automotive electronics
                                - Resistance welding systems
                                - Housings for magnetic sensing devices
                                - Bushing and bearings in aircraft and heavy machinery
                                - Aircraft landing gear
                                - Radars
                                - Fiber optics and lasers 

Cadmium Zinc Telluride

**Material Description****Uses of CZT?**                                - Radiation detector, usually infrared 
                                - Medical imaging
                                - Night vision goggles
                                - IED detectors

## Metals

Aluminum

**Material Description****Uses of aluminum? **                                - Transportation 
                                - Containers and packaging 
                                - Building and construction 
                                - Electrical 
                                - Machinery and equipment 
                                - Structural airframe material for aircraft 
                                - Military and combat vehicles

Antimony

**Material Description**Antimony is a silvery-gray, brittle semi-metal. It rarely occurs in nature as a native element, but is found in a number of different minerals, the most important of which is stibnite. Antimony is often called a semi-metal because in pure form it is not shiny and malleable like true metals.

 

**Uses of antimony?**

 

 
                                - Automotive batteries (lead-acid)
                                - Ceramics and glass
                                - Flame retardants (flameproof fabrics)
                                - Automotive brake pads (additive to adjust co-efficient of friction)
                                - Cable sheathing

 

Beryllium

**Material Description****Uses of beryllium metal? **                                - Battery contacts and electronic connectors
                                - Windows for X-ray tubes 
                                - Aerospace castings 
                                - High-definition and cable television 
                                - Underwater fiber-optic cable systems 
                                - High density circuits for high-speed computers and automotive ignition systems 
                                - Pacemakers and other medical devices

Bismuth

**Material Description****Uses of bismuth? **                                - Cosmetics (bismuth oxychloride) 
                                -  Pharmaceuticals (compounds used in over-the-counter  to treat stomach illness, burns, intestinal disorders, and stomach ulcers)
                                - Metal Alloys 
                                - Solder 
                                - Thermoelectric devices (bismuth telluride) 
                                - Fireworks 
                                - Plastics with opacity to X-rays (implanted medical devices
                                - Ammunition (replacement for lead shot used for hunting, "less-lethal" riot projectile 

Cadmium

**Material Description****Uses of cadmium? **                                - Batteries (NiCd)
                                -  Pigments (yellow, orange, and red) 
                                - Plating (provides better rust resistance than zinc, especially in salt water environments 

Chromium

**Material Description****Uses of chromium metal? **                                - Component in nickel super-alloys for land based turbines and jet engines
                                -  Component in high speed tool steel
                                - Surface coatings 
                                - Catalysts for processing hydrocarbons 
                                - Refractory materials
                                - Resistance heating wires 

Cobalt

**Material Description****Uses of cobalt?**                                - Batteries 
                                - Component in nickel superalloys for high temperature sections of jet engines and industrial gas turbines
                                - Pigments
                                - Medical implants 

Copper

**Material Description****Uses of copper? **                                - Electric wire (motors, electromagnets, integrated circuits) 
                                - Plumbing (tubing, fittings) 
                                - Architectural roofing and features on buildings 
                                - Alloys (brass, bronze) 

Gallium

**Material Description****Uses of gallium? **                                - Integrated circuits (cell phones, especially smart phones, wireless internet) 
                                - Optoelectronic devices (laser diodes, LEDs, photo-detectors, and solar cells) 
                                - Specialty alloys (minor use, ~1) 

Hafnium

**Material Description****Uses of hafnium? **                                - Control rods on nuclear reactors (primary use) 
                                - Nickel superalloys and high temperature alloys 
                                - Integrated circuit production for features at 45mm and smaller 
                                - Electrodes for plasma arc cutting 

Indium

**Material Description****Uses of indium? **                                - LCD displays 
                                - Organic LEDs 
                                - Fiber-optics 
                                - Solder and alloys 
                                - Infrared imaging 
                                - Communications 

Lead

**Material Description****Uses of lead? **                                - Batteries
                                - Cable sheeting
                                - Solder 
                                - Shielding (X-ray machines) 
                                - Ammunition

Lithium

**Material Description****Uses of lithium? **                                - Enamels
                                - Glass
                                - Ceramics 
                                - Air purification 
                                - Lithium ion-batteries
                                - Focal lenses for telescopes 

Magnesium

**Material Description****Uses of magnesium? **                                - Refractory material in furnace linings for steel, iron, metals, glass and cement production
                                - Used in agricultural, chemical and construction industries

Manganese

**Material Description**
Manganese is very brittle but hard metallic element. Pyrolusite is the main ore mineral for manganese. Manganese is essential to iron and steel production by virtue of its sulfur-fixing, deoxidizing, and alloying properties. 
**Uses of manganese? **                                - Steelmaking
                                - Aluminum alloy production
                                - Additive in unleaded gasoline
                                - Glass making and coloring
                                - Batteries and dry cells
                                - Alloys for chemical processing applications
                                - Alloys for high temperature bolts and fasteners

Mercury

**Material Description****Uses of mercury? **                                - Munition fuzes 
                                - Missile and space guidance system gyroscopes 
                                - Dental equipment
                                - Electric lighting
                                - Infrared detection

Molybdenum

**Material Description****Uses of molybdenum? **                                - Component in tool and alloy steels
                                - Component in nickel superalloys for high temperature sections of jet engines
                                - Lubricant
                                - Colorant
                                - Nickel superalloys for high temperature sections of turbine engines

Nickel

**Material Description****Uses of nickel? **                                - Land based turbines
                                - Turbines for jet aircraft engines
                                - Turbines for large-scale power generation
                                - Liquid gas storage
                                - High speed steels

Niobium

**Material Description****Uses of niobium metal? **                                - Alloying element in steels, stainless steels, superalloys (nickel, cobalt and iron-based)
                                - Jet engine components
                                - Gas turbines 
                                - Heat resistant and combustion equipment 
                                - Tool bits and cutting tools 

Rhenium

**Material Description****Uses of rhenium?**                                - Components in nickel superalloys for high temperature sections in jet engines and other jet parts 
                                - Catalysts for petroleum-reforming

Strontium

**Material Description****Uses of strontium? **                                - Alloys
                                - Pyrotechnics
                                - Ceramics and glasses
                                - Electrolytic production of zinc
                                - Tracer ammunition

Tantalum

**Material Description****Uses of tantalum? **                                - Chemical processing equipment
                                - Heat exchangers
                                - Anti-lock brake systems
                                - High temperature aerospace engine parts
                                - Night vision goggles
                                - Global positioning systems
                                - Missile systems

Tin

**Material Description****Uses of tin? **                                - Bearings
                                - Containers
                                - Solder
                                - Bronze
                                - Chemicals
                                - LCD TVs, touch screens and portable electronics

Titanium

**Material Description****Uses of titanium sponge? **                                - Landing gear, springs, rotors (helicopter), fittings, and attachments
                                - Structural components for airplanes, satellites, and spacecraft
                                - Gas turbine engines
                                - Chemical processing

Tungsten

**Material Description****Uses of tungsten metal powder? **                                - Steels
                                - Wear-resistant alloys
                                - Component in nickel superalloys for high temperature sections of jet engines
                                - Armor penetrating projectiles
                                - Aircraft weights and counterweights
                                - Small arms ammunition

Vanadium

**Material Description****Uses of vanadium? **                                - Steel
                                - Titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloys in jet engines and high-speed aircraft
                                - Cladding titanium to steel
                                - Energy storage

Zinc

**Material Description****Uses of zinc? **                                - Galvanized Steel
                                - Bronze and brass
                                - Solder
                                - Batteries
                                - Solar cells

Zirconium

**Material Description****Uses of zirconium metal? **                                - Space vehicles and parts
                                - Abrasives
                                - Alloys for naval applications
                                - Metallurgical furnaces 
                                - Ceramic knives 
                                - Artificial joints and limbs

## Miscellaneous Non-Metals

Arsenic

**Material Description**Arsenic (As) is a gray, yellow, or black metalloid that is generally recovered as a by-product from other metal processing. The brittle gray form used by industry is the most common form.

 

 
***Common uses of arsenic:***

 

 
                                - Semiconductor dopant (gallium arsenide for use in integrated circuits)
                                - Lead-hardening alloy for use in ammunition and batteries
                                - Pesticides, herbicides, wood preservative

 

Boron

**Material Description****Uses of boron? **                                - Component of composite materials (boron fibers) in advanced aerospace structures
                                - Industrial catalyst for many organic reactions, such as polymerization reactions
                                - Major role in electroplating of nickel, lead and tin
                                - Inner plates of ballistic vests and for tank armor (carbon boride)
                                - Permanent NdFeB magnets

Carbon Fibers

**Material Description**Carbon fibers serve as a continuous reinforcement material incorporated in an advanced polymer matrix composite. Certain grades are widely used in U.S. military and aerospace applications. PAN-based carbon fibers are often classified as high strength (HS), high modulus (HM), intermediate modulus (IM), or standard grade (SG).

**Uses of carbon fibers?**

 

 
                                - Structural aviation and space vehicle components

 

Energetic Materials

**Material Description****Uses of energetic materials? **                                - High explosives
                                - Ammunition
                                - Rocket propellant 

Germanium

**Material Description****Uses of germanium? **                                - Polymerization catalyst for polyethylene terephthalates (PET) 
                                - Telecommunication fiber optics 
                                - Lenses for mid- and long- wavelength infrared (IR) devices 
                                - Solar cells 

Graphite

**Material Description****Uses of graphite? **                                - Batteries 
                                - Fuel cells 
                                - Refractories 
                                - Steel making
                                - Brake linings 
                                - Pencils 

Quartz

**Material Description****Uses of quartz? **                                - Military radios
                                - Electronic warfare
                                - guidance systems
                                - Radar
                                - Navigation
                                - Aviation electronics 

Rubber (natural)

**Material Description****Uses of Rubber? **                                - Tires and inner tubes
                                - Footwear 
                                - Gasket packaging and sealing
                                - Hoses and belting 

Selenium

**Material Description****Uses of selenium? **                                - Largely consumed in metallurgy and the manufacturing of glass
                                - Electrolytic manganese (selenium dioxide)
                                - Lead-acid batteries
                                - Solar cells (copper indium gallium diselenide, CIGs) 

Silicon Carbide

**Material Description****Uses of Silicon Carbide? **                                - Machining or finishing cast iron, non-ferrous metals, stone, leather and rubber 
                                - Pressure blasting, lapping, grinding and polishing or hard metal alloys and non-metallic materials 
                                - Slicing of silicon wafers 
                                - Finishing and polishing of manufactured equipment 
                                - Clean and peen jet rotor blades and other precision parts

Tellurium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of tellurium?***                                - Alloying additive in steel, copper, lead and cast iron 
                                - Vulcanizing agent (rubber) 
                                - Thermoelectric devices 
                                - CdZnTe substrates (mid- and long-wave infrared devices) 
                                - Metal alloys

## Rare Earths

Cerium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of cerium?***                                - Glass manufacture additive and polishing compound 
                                - Phosphors in TV screens and fluorescent lamps 
                                - Chemical oxidizing agent 
                                - Ceramic capacitors, semiconductors and other LCD components 
                                - Wastewater treatment

Dysprosium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of dysprosium?***                                - Permanent magnets
                                - High-intensity lighting
                                - Capacitors and chips
                                - Data storage applications
                                - Chemical reaction testing
                                - Laser materials (ceramics and specialty glass)

Erbium

**Material Description*****What are some common uses of erbium?***                                - Er:YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser applications 
                                - Lasers used for cutting and welding 
                                - Alloy additive for vanadium 
                                - Activator for phosphors 
                                - Fiber optic cables 
                                - Erbium-doped optical fiber amplifiers (EDFAs)

Europium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of europium?***                                - Phosphors used in display screens, TVs and fluorescent lights 
                                - Ceramics and specialty glass 
                                - Activator for yttrium-based phosphors in TVs and computer screens 
                                - Polishing powders and magnets

Gadolinium

**Material Description*****What are common uses of gadolinium?***                                - Medical services: MRI contrast agent, X-ray tubes 
                                - High refractive index glass or garnets 
                                - Added to chromium, iron and related alloys 
                                - SmCo and NdFeB magnets 
                                - Lasers 
                                - Radar warning receivers and radar jammers 
                                - Optical lenses, optical fibers and coatings

Holmium

**Material Description*****What are common uses of holmium?***                                - Strong artificially generated magnetic fields 
                                - Red/yellow colors in glass 
                                - Calibration in gamma ray spectrometers 
                                - Solid state lasers (YIG, YLF)

Lanthanum

**Material Description*****What are common uses for lanthanum?***                                - Optical fibers, glasses and lenses 
                                - Ceramic capacitors, semiconductors and other LCD and electronic components 
                                - Metal alloys for nickel metal hydride batteries 
                                - Fiber-optic communication systems 
                                - SmCo magnets 
                                - High-strength 300M steel 
                                - Infrared-absorbing glass for night vision goggles

Lutetium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of lutetium?***                                - High-refractive-index optical lenses (LuAG) 
                                - X-ray phosphors 
                                - Specialty silicon nitride ceramic bearings 
                                - Catalyst is refining petroleum

Neodymium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of neodymium?***                                - Glass production 
                                - Incandescent light bulbs 
                                - Cathode ray tubes 
                                - Ceramic capacitors, semiconductors and other components for LCDs and electronics 
                                - NdFeB magnets in smartphones, hard drives, other consumer electronics and in propulsion of DDG-51

Praseodymium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of praseodymium?***                                - Doping agent in fiber optic cables and several metal alloys 
                                - Thermal resistance alloys 
                                - Optical lenses, filters and coatings 
                                - Ceramic capacitors, semiconductors and other components in LCDs and electronics 
                                - NdFeB magnets 
                                - Alloyed with Mg in aircraft engines 
                                - Lasers

Samarium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of samarium?***                                - SmCo permanent magnets used in navigation of tanks 
                                - Present in NYAG (neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser glass 
                                - Infrared absorption glass 
                                - Optical glass

Scandium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of scandium?***                                - Frames in scandium alloy in pistols 
                                - Electronics 
                                - Light aluminum-scandium alloy for aerospace components 
                                - Lasers 
                                - High-intensity lamps for landing gear

Terbium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of terbium?***                                - Green phosphors in compact fluorescent light bulbs, LCDs, video displays and night vision goggles 
                                - Additive in high-strength NdFeB magnets 
                                - Lasers

Thulium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of thulium?***                                - Portable X-ray devices 
                                - Ceramic magnets for microwave equipment

Ytterbium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of ytterbium?***                                - Portable X-ray machines 
                                - Optical glasses, crystals and ceramics 
                                - Ytterbium lasers are used to heat treat turbine blades 
                                - Super alloys for jet engines 
                                - Infrared lasers

Yttrium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of yttrium?***                                - Metallic alloy component 
                                - Garnet crystals 
                                - LED phosphor for white and grey colors 
                                - Optical and camera lenses 
                                - Protective ceramic layers in get engines 
                                - Heat-resistant superalloys for jet engines 
                                - YAG  and YIG lasers

## Ores and Compounds

Aluminum Oxide Fused Crude

**Material Description*****Common uses for Aluminum Oxide:***

Beryl Ore

**Material Description*****Common uses for beryl ore:***

Ferrochromium

**Material Description*****Common uses for Ferrochromium:***                                - Stainless steels
                                - Alloy steels
                                - Tool steel
                                - Cast iron

Ferromanganese

**Material Description*****Common uses for Ferromanganese:***                                - Stainless steel production
                                - Structural steels 

Fluorspar

**Material Description*****Common uses of fluorspar:***                                - Metal processing 
                                - Steel and iron production 
                                - Catalyst 
                                - Semiconductor etching 
                                - Electrical power distribution 
                                - Pharmaceuticals 
                                - High-quality camera and telescope lenses 
                                - Seals and adhesives in engine components

## Precious Metals

Iridium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of iridium?***                                - Spark plug tips 
                                - Backlit LED screens and organic LEDS 
                                - Platinum hardening agent 
                                - Iridium alloys used in aircraft engines 
                                - Guided missile systems 
                                - Computers and radar screens 
                                - Military semiconductors

Palladium

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of palladium?***                                - Electronic conductive connectors 
                                - Automotive catalysts 
                                - Multilayer ceramic capacitors 
                                - Internal computer components 
                                - Aerospace brazing and soldering

Platinum

**Material Description*****What are the common uses of platinum?***                                - LCD/flat panel displays 
                                - Catalysts (automotive, bulk chemical, petroleum refining) 
                                - High temperature, corrosion resistant alloy 
                                - Aircraft turbine blades, coatings, engine seals and gaskets

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