INDIUM IN79

High gloss, very soft and rare metal.

Indium is a high-gloss, very soft and rare metal. Its occurrence in the earth's crust is comparable to that of silver, but the market is relatively small, especially compared to the precious metals, which entails specific risks but also opportunities.

Indium was from Ferdinand Reich discovered.

Specific property:ductility and cold formability
Application areas:Thin film coatings (ITO), alloys and solders, semiconductors
Future Technologies:Entertainment electronics, solar technology, lighting technology, communication technology

PROPERTIES

VALUE

item category

metals

thermal conductivity

11.1 10⁶ kg/m³

electric conductivity

81.8 fpm

density

7.31 kg/m³

melting point

429.7 °C

boiling temperature

2.345°C

Thin layers of indium tin oxide (ITO) are used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays (LCD) or flat panel displays. Due to the wide range of applications of these screens in consumer electronics (e.g. in mobile phones, notebooks and televisions) and the high demand, this is the most important application of indium in terms of volume. The proportion of indium used in this area of the total indium requirement is estimated at up to approx. 80%, since the indium lost in the production process is also taken into account. Other applications can be found, for example, in the area of high-purity low-temperature alloys.

Indium was discovered before the phone was developed. Indium is a silvery-white, highly lustrous and very soft metal. It has high ductility and is easily cold worked even at very low temperatures. It can form alloys with most metals, increasing hardness and corrosion resistance even in low concentrations. Indium wets glass and forms a glass with equally good reflective properties.

Indium is a rare metal used primarily for the production of transparent conductive coatings for electronic displays, as well as for various other applications such as semiconductors, photovoltaic cells, and aerospace alloys. The price of indium is influenced by several factors, including supply and demand dynamics, technological advances, and economic conditions. Below are some trends that have affected the price of indium in the past: Supply Dynamics: The supply of indium is limited because it is primarily extracted as a byproduct of zinc, lead, and tin mining. Therefore, any disruption in the production of these metals can affect the supply and price of indium. The price of indium can be very sensitive to supply disruptions such as production cuts or mine closures. A decrease in indium supply can drive the price up, while an increase in supply can drive the price down. Technological Advancement: Indium is used in a number of technological applications, including electronic displays, semiconductors, photovoltaic cells, and aerospace alloys. Demand for indium may be affected by technological advances and the development of new applications for the metal. As new applications for indium are discovered or as existing applications become more popular, this may increase demand and raise the price. Economic Conditions: Like other metals and commodities, the price of indium can be affected by economic conditions such as inflation and market volatility. When investors are concerned about market volatility, they may turn to safer assets such as precious metals, which can drive up their prices. Overall, the indium price is subject to a variety of complex and intertwined factors, and its movement can be difficult to predict in the short term. However, investors and analysts often look to economic indicators, supply dynamics, and technological advances for insight into future indium price movements.