Indium

In the III group of the main subgroup under the atomic number 49 is the chemical element indium. It belongs to the group of light metals .

A simple substance indium is a malleable, fusible, very soft metal of a silvery-white color. Chemical properties are similar to those of aluminum and gallium, and similar in appearance to zinc .

Application area

Indium is used for the manufacture of thin electrically conductive films and IR reflective films (based on indium oxide) .

It is widely used in semiconductor technology for the manufacture of germanium rectifiers .

Due to its plastic properties, low volatility and low melting point, indium is used to obtain various alloys and solders (15% of the total consumption of indium), which find a wide variety of applications in various industries. Solders can be used to join metals, glass, ceramics, as well as in fire alarm systems .

Indium also finds great use in anti-corrosion coatings (instead of silver in reflectors, etc.) .

Indium is able to easily (even when rubbed) diffuse into other metals and form hard wear-resistant coatings, so it is successfully used in the manufacture of high-quality bearings for engines, the service life of which is five times that of conventional bearings.

Indium alloys have low vapor pressure, so they are used for soldering high vacuum equipment .

In jewelry, indium is used in alloys with gold, silver and platinoids. The addition of indium to gold significantly increases the hardness and strength of products, improves their decorative appearance .

Indium is also used in dentistry. A slight addition of indium to the materials of dental fillings and prostheses increases their corrosion resistance and hardness .