Umicore | Precious Metals Management

Did you know that cobalt was the first metal to be discovered? Cobalt minerals have been used as pigments since ancient times. Although not under the name cobalt, the metal was used to color ceramics in Persia and Egypt. Today, it has many other applications and different uses, such as in medical solutions and in the battery industry. You might...

Did you know that nickel is an element that cannot be destroyed nor created ? This makes it an excellent metal for Umicore's closed loop business philosophy and – more general – the principle of circular economy, namely keeping materials as long as possible in the value chain. The characteristics of nickel, such as corrosion resistance, high-...

Did you know that the famous Statue of Liberty in New York is covered with 90,800 kg of copper plating which is 2.4mm thick? That’s a whole lot of copper! Copper has played an extremely important role in the development of civilizations. It has served us throughout the years to create tools, weapons, and jewelry that even dates back to 9000 BC....

What if you grabbed a metal and it melted on your hand? With gallium that could be possible. Due to its low melting point, the warmth of your hand is enough to liquify it. This metal is considered as non-toxic and safe to touch yet not consumed by humans, animals or plants. Did you know that gallium played an important role for the 2014 Nobel...

Did you know that this Umicore metalloid went to Mars? Yes, germanium substrates form the basis of space solar cells due to their energy conversion efficiency. The first two Mars Exploration Rovers and most satellites use germanium cells to power the devices with solar energy. On the 26th of November 2018, NASA reported that the InSight robot had...

Applications Arsenic's major application is a wood preservative. Additionally, the trioxide is used as a decolouriser and refining agent in glass-making, and methylated derivatives are used as herbicides. Arsenic metal is also used as an alloying element in certain lead- and copper-base alloys as well as in the manufacture of lead shot. Almost...

Did you know that selenium is among the rarest elements on the surface of our planet? Selenium is most commonly found as an impurity, a small portion attached to other metals. It replaces a small part of the sulfur in the sulfide ores of many metals, like copper, and therefore it is produced as a byproduct in the refining of these ores and...

Although hard to find and perhaps not the best-known element, if you take a closer look, you will find small amounts of ruthenium in many applications as it enables technology to work better. Using this element in the right place ensures that various applications function just as they should. Do you write with a fountain pen? Then you...

Did you know that rhodium is one of the key elements that help protect our environment? Without it, rhodium catalysts would not exist. These catalysts reduce the harmful emissions originating from vehicle exhaust gases, which is one of the most important steps in the fight against climate change. Rhodium, often together with palladium or platinum...

At Umicore, our mission is to make materials for a better life, contributing to a more sustainable tomorrow. Palladium is a critical component in catalytic converters that clean the exhaust fumes from petrol and hybrid vehicles. This prevents the release of harmful gases and therefore helps protect our planet. Palladium has many other...

This metal needs no introduction. Silver has been known since ancient times, but its usage is more recent than that of gold. The cupellation process, which is the refining process in metallurgy when ores or alloyed metals are treated at very high temperatures to separate noble metals such as gold and silver from base metals such as lead and copper...

Are your plans for this month to relax with a hot chocolate, a cozy blanket and a Christmas movie? Anyone watching a movie on TV is sure to recognize this metal. Did you know that indium is used in flat screen TVs? Watching TV not only helps you stay up to date on the latest news, shows and movies. It’s also a great way to relax. Thanks to the...