Palladium
Indispensable for Smartphones and Hydrogen Storage: Palladium
Properties of Palladium
Palladium was discovered in the early 19th century. It is the lightest and most redactive element of all precious metals. Palladium has the lowest melting point, is silvery-white shiny and has comparable properties to platinum. Therefore, it is often called platinum’s little brother. However, it is tougher and harder, more resistant and particularly colourfast.
Pd
Areas of Application for Palladium
Palladium is often used in the same industries as platinum. Like its “big brother”, it is an excellent catalyst for accelerating chemical reactions when finely distributed. In addition to the electrical and medical industries, it is primarily in demand from car manufacturers, to whom more than 80 per cent of all palladium production flows. They need it for catalytic converters, which are mandatory in more and more countries like China and India. In addition, many countries have already further tightened emission standards.
In the future, palladium could be used in fuel cells as an electrode material and in the future hydrogen car as a storage material for hydrogen. Palladium could thus profit from a possible fuel cell boom.
Currently, palladium is mainly used in catalysts. But jewelry made of palladium is also in demand.
Physical Asset Palladium
Worth Knowing
The worldwide mining output for 2022 is calculated at 220 tonnes. Another 90 tonnes are to be extracted through recycling and therefore to cover the expected annual demand of 310 tonnes. Since demand has constantly exceeded supply in recent years, the market has reacted with enormous price increases.
Trend of Prices
