Cobalt Applications
Superalloys, such as stellite, are the largest consumer of cobalt metal, accounting for about 20% of demand. Predominantly made of iron, cobalt and nickel, but containing smaller amounts of other metals, including
chromium,
tungsten, aluminum, and
titanium, these high-performance alloys are resistant to high temperatures, corrosion and wear, and are used to manufacture turbine blades for jet engines, hard facing machine parts, exhaust valves, and gun barrels.
Another important use for cobalt is in wear-resistant alloys (e.g. Vitallium), which can be found in orthopedic and dental implants, as well as prosthetic hips and knees.
Hardmetals, in which cobalt is used as a binding material, consume roughly 12% of total cobalt. These include cemented carbides and diamond tools that are used in cutting applications and mining tools.
Cobalt is also used to produce permanent magnets, such as the previously mentioned AlNiCo and samarium-cobalt magnets. Magnets account for 7% of cobalt metal demand and are used in magnetic recording media, electric motors, as well as generators.
Despite the many uses for cobalt metal, cobalt's primary applications are in the chemical sector, which accounts for about half of the total global demand. Cobalt chemicals are used in the metallic cathodes of rechargeable batteries, as well as in petrochemical catalysts, ceramic pigments and glass decolorizers.
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Shiny & Silver - Learn About Cobalt Metal
