Palladium Technology

Catalytic Converters, By far the largest use of palladium today is for automobile catalytic converters. Based upon some estimates the 450 million automobiles in the world today is projected to more than double in the next 30 years requiring a growing use of palladium. And, while some forecasters suggest palladium recycled from scraped automobiles will become a large factor in the supply/demand price equation for palladium in coming years, other factors will mitigate these projections.

Electronics, Palladium-containing components are used in virtually every type of electronic device, from basic consumer products to complex military hardware.  Although each component contains only a fraction of a gram of metal, the sheer volume of units produced results in significant consumption of palladium. The largest area of palladium use in the electronics sector is in multi-layer ceramic (chip) capacitors (MLCC). Smaller amounts of palladium are used in conductive tracks in hybrid integrated circuits (HIC) and for plating connectors and lead frames.

Chemical, With the fall in palladium prices and the rise in platinum prices palladium’s cost-effectiveness in chemical applications has become apparent. Various chemical applications use palladium, including the manufacture of paints, adhesives, fibers and coatings. Palladium is used in the production of purified terephthalic acid, which is a precursor to polyesters and to polyethylene terephthalate a plastic resin used in packaging of film and glass laminates. PGM catalysts for nitric acid production take the form of a gauze made out of fine wire. Palladium is used in the production of catchment gauze used in the making of nitric acid for the manufacture of nitrogen fertilizers