#rare metal

[ultramet3]

No.77 Iridium - the goddess of the rainbow in platinum group

Iridium is one of the least abundant elements in the earth's crust, about one-fortieth the amount of gold.

The elements Iridium and Osmium were discovered simultaneously in 1803 by the British chemist Smithson Tennant.Born in Selby in 1761, Yorkshire, Tennant had studied medicine when he was young, but found it unaccommodated to be a doctor after graduation and finally turned to study chemistry. In 1785, at the age of 23, Tennant was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and kept digging in the field of chemistry. He made a quantitative analysis of diamond combustion experiments in 1976, which confirmed the surprising conclusion that diamond and graphite were isomers.Tenant passed away in 1815 on a bridge, near Boulogne-sur-mer, France, which collapsed while he was riding across it.

(Smithson Tennant)

Iridium has also been implicated in an ancient Earth extinction event.Iridium is found in very small amounts in the Earth's crust, but scientists have found it very high levels in sediments at the end of the Cretaceous and the top Tertiary period (about 65 million years ago) where the dinosaurs died out, hundreds of times higher than its natural abundance in the earth's crust. At the same time, asteroids contain a lot of iridium. According to these, the American physicist Luis Walter Alvarez hypothesized that an asteroid impact wiped out 70 percent of all plant and animal species on Earth, including all non-avian dinosaurs and that much of the iridium in the Earth's crust today also came from it.Then a similar size crater, Chicxulub Crater, was discovered in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, besides, no dinosaur fossils have been found at the K-Pg boundary. Multiple clues further support the Alvarez hypothesis.

In modern times, iridium oxides have also attracted a lot of interest over the past 10-15 years. As a heavy transition metal element with a half-filled 5d electron orbital, in theory, its oxide should exhibit metallic conductivity. However, due to relativistic effects (spin–orbit interaction) on the electron shell structure, many iridium oxides behave as insulator. These insulators have been predicted to exhibit strange electromagnetic phenomena.Compounds isolated from iridium are also of interest to the chemical community. In this compound, iridium reaches a valence of +9, the highest known oxidation state, which has never been found before. This also makes iridium the element with the widest range of oxidation states (from -3 to +9 valence).

Iridium also has excellent performance in terms of physical properties, having the second highest density (22.56 g /cm³) of all elements, only slightly lower than osmium, and the second highest melting point at 2450℃. At the same time, iridium has strong and outstanding resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, making it ideal for use in spark plugs and engine parts in the aerospace industry. Iridium is extremely scarce around the world. It is produced mainly as a byproduct of electrolytic refining of copper and nickel, only three tons a year, making it expensive.

Iridium’s  pronounce “Yi” in Chinese is the same as the one of the number “one” , which can be derived into the meaning of "always", symbolizing the persistence and pursuit of love, ideal, career and life, as well as the loyalty, unswerving and unchanging style of the Chinese people. With these special meaning, therefore, iridium metal is gradually used in the jewelry industry, and a large number of iridium jewelry has come into the public eye.

If you want to know more about our rare metal jewelry, please follow us or contant me directly.

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Email: sales@ultramet.com.cn

[lnmei]

👏💥

[thesoftclubstoic]

Rachel True, circa late 90s, early 00s

[katich-pigeon]

[sleeeepy-demon]

part 11 of horrible bg3 memes i drew on paint. Give him all your money.

part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

[blanchebees]

On the hunt

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[darth-maya]

oh I'm slowly becoming the hot goth girl I was meant to be

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guess who

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Stressame Street

Acrylic on canvas, February 2024

[togament]

𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐚𝐣𝐢. ʚ𖦹ɞ

૮ . . ྀིა⁩

[ultramet3]

Ultramet Brand Story - Freedom, Love, Creation

Jewelry itself is a language.

Ultramet originates from the material industry of science and technology where there is a female engineer who adheres to the pursuit of freedom, love, and the joy of creation throughout her life. She has created multiple series of collection-level art works for all people with the same feeling, aiming to select rare material elements on this planet, express the deep world of humanity through the interaction of hearts, the collision of ideas, and the reproduction of art.

Start from here

She believes that everything in nature is properly arranged. She likes being free, spontaneous, and on the go. Only herself is the person who deserves the most attention. She ignored the strange gaze of others, ignored the dull tongues around her, and was obsessed with the things she loved.

“Scarce Precious Eternal”

Through the daily companion items, we may be able to find another dimension of ourselves, so that we are no longer alone. We may be able to reach the gate of infinity, without ever having to be trapped in the complexities of the real world. We may be able to find the same kind of ourselves and let love and joy go together.

The journey of life becomes meaningful because of understanding, loving, and accompanying each other.

Ultramet Rare Metal Art Series

First work interpretation

Eternality

- Iridium Series

It represents the persistence and pursuit of love, ideal, career and life, upholding the faithful, unswerving and unchanging style.

Because:

Iridium has the highest density among precious metals (22.56 g/cm3);

Iridium has the second highest melting point (2450°C);

Iridium has the largest resistance to high-temperature ablation (the high-temperature combustion flame nozzle of a rocket missile uses iridium coating);

The reserves of iridium are extremely scarce (the price is second only to rhodium, and the raw material for iridium powder reached an all-time high in 2021, with a market price of 1500 yuan per gram, more than three times that of gold)

Slient Helper

- Molybdenum Series

Whether it's when you're struggling to start, when you're suffering from pain, or when you're at a confused low ebb, there's always a force from the "helper" around you. They either provide you with guidance like a lighthouse, or they take good care of you, or they're quietly busy in front of and behind the scenes, trying to support you and helping you find your own way. For these slient helpers, we need to appreciate, respect and cherish their quality which is also the quality of molybdenum itself.

Because:

Molybdenum has two quality characteristics: omnidirectional fusion and high energy thrust assist.

Molybdenum is a refractory metal among rare metals, and also has high temperature (melting point 2620 ° C), high strength, and corrosion resistance characteristics. Therefore, it is the most important additive element in various high-performance special steels, stainless steel, tool steel, high-speed steel, and alloy steel; The addition of molybdenum in iron and steel smelting is like adding a strengthening agent to a piece of ordinary steel. Its high-temperature strength, toughness, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, weldability, heat resistance, and other indicators have significantly improved compared to before the addition of molybdenum.

In the second and third transition elements of the periodic table of elements, molybdenum is the only trace element that is known to be essential to the human body. Therefore, its biocompatibility is also particularly good. Cobalt chromium molybdenum alloy and molybdenum rhenium alloy are both medical grade options for human orthopedic implant materials approved by the FDA in the United States;

Molybdenum has made the market demand increase year by year due to its high all-round integration with other elements in the steel industry and high energy boost. Under the situation of continuous decline of molybdenum ore reserves and mining output, the price of molybdenum rose three times in 2022, which was almost crazy.

King’s Return

- Rhenium Series

It represents those successful figures who have endured thousands of troops and battles and have always been indomitable. The character of a king is reflected in extreme pressure or test, never yielding, never saying defeat, never giving up, invincible. And they always have excellent qualities of high endurance and tenacity.

Because：

Rhenium has the highest density among rare and dispersed metals (21.03 g/cm3);

It has the second highest melting point (3160°C);

It is the most resistant to high-temperature creep (high-temperature and high-pressure turbine blades of large or military aviation engines are generally made of single crystal superalloys specifically added with the "rhenium effect", and high-temperature combustion flame nozzles of rocket missiles are made of a rhenium based iridium coating method);

Rhenium metal has excellent high-temperature strength, and is the only known metal element on the earth that can maintain tensile strength and yield strength values of over 80MPA at temperatures as high as 2149°C, making it the most resistant rare metal to high temperatures and pressures in history;

The earth's reserves of rhenium are also extremely scarce, accounting for about one tenth of gold reserves, but the current price is less than one tenth of gold. The ultra-high cost performance ratio reserves an imaginative appreciation trend for rhenium metal.

High Mountains and Flowing Waters

- Tantalum&Niobium Series

"High mountains and flowing waters” in ancient Chinese story are a metaphor for the relationship between bosom friends. T&N is an acronym for the element symbol tantalum (Ta) and niobium (Nb). Taken together, the two symbols indicate that when once bosom friends meet in their life, they cannot be separated from each other, as like as niobium in tantalum and tantalum in niobium.

Because:

Tantalum and niobium belong to the same group in the periodic table of elements and are both refractory metals in rare metals. Because they have very similar physical and chemical properties, and their distribution in nature is often co-existing and inseparable, early chemists once mistakenly believed that they were the same element. It was not until 1844 that German chemists successfully separated tantalum and niobium for the first time that the twin brothers of the metal world were able to distinguish each other. 

Tantalum and niobium have good physiological corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, so they are often used as body implant materials and surgical tools, such as bone plates, bone screws, implant teeth, roots, scalpels, and so on. 

Tantalum and niobium resource reserves are scarce, and their price in rare metals is above the medium level. Due to the similar properties of tantalum and niobium, which are symbiotic and difficult to separate, tantalum and niobium have become the symbol of "close and intimate friends". The T&N series represents the joy of meeting close friends and the invaluable value of friendship.

Titanic

-Titanium Series

Titanium has many advantages such as light weight, resistance to chemical corrosion, bacteriostasis, and oxidation resistance. It is almost a universal metal. Titanium art works are named after the homophonic Titanic, which symbolizes the deepest love, protection, and wholehearted dedication in the heart.

Because:

Titanium is a refractory rare metal with many advantages such as corrosion resistance, bacteriostasis, and oxidation resistance, so it is widely used. 

Titanium has a "biological affinity" in the human body, which can resist the corrosion of secretions and is non-toxic, and is suitable for any sterilization method. Therefore, titanium is widely used in the manufacture of medical devices, such as artificial hip joints, knee joints, shoulder joints, hypochondriac joints, cranium bones, aortic valve, and bone fixation clips. When wrapped by new muscle fibers, these "titanium bones" begin to maintain the normal activity of the human body. Titanium is widely distributed in the human body, and its content in normal humans is no more than 15mg per 70kg of body weight. Its role is unclear. However, it has been confirmed that titanium can stimulate phagocytes and enhance immunity. 

Titanium resource reserves are scarce, and its price is similar to tungsten and molybdenum among rare metals.

Lonely Warrior

- Tungsten Series

It represents those lonely warriors who come from bottom, but are fearless, overcome all obstacles, and forge ahead. "Love how you stand on you own, won’t bow down to anyone, love how you keep fighting on when all hope is gone." The tungsten series is a good illustration of those unique and solitary warriors who come from the wildness and never depend on others in their lifetime. With "the humblest dream, the most aloof dream", they are fearless, they overcome all obstacles, and move forward all the way.

Because:

Tungsten has two main quality characteristics: high melting point and high hardness.  

Tungsten has the highest melting point (3360 °C);

Tungsten material has a high hardness, so it is the first choice for hard and wear-resistant materials in industry. Tungsten steel, which mainly consists of tungsten, is also known as cemented carbide and its hardness can reach 94% of diamond;

Tungsten is a key strategic metal element that major military powers around the world attach great importance to. Tungsten reserves are relatively scarce, about 3.7 million tons. Fortunately, China's tungsten reserves are 1.9 million tons, accounting for more than half of the world's total.

Vanadis

-Vanadium Series

The name derives from the discovery of vanadium by the Swedish chemist Sebastian in 1830. Due to the colorful and beautiful compounds of vanadium, it was named after Vanadis, the goddess of beauty in Nordic mythology. Vanadis represents the beautiful and noble goddess, the god with extraordinary bearing, or beautiful expectations and memories in our hearts.

Because:

Vanadium is a silver gray refractory rare metal with a combination of hardness and softness, a lively and variable valence state, and a colorful luster. 

Vanadium and molybdenum are similar in that they have many uses in biomedicine, except for being mainly used as additives in steel smelting. Vanadium is crucial in human metabolism and tooth development. Vanadium can promote sugar metabolism and promote the growth of red blood cells. It has a good insulin like effect, can protect islet cells, and reduce blood sugar content in the body. Therefore, vanadium is used as a jewelry material and will not cause allergic reactions or side effects to the human body. 

Vanadium resource reserves are scarce, and its price is similar to tantalum and niobium in rare metals, belonging to the upper middle level. Due to the combination of hardness and softness of vanadium, its lively and variable valence, and its colorful luster, vanadium works represent a beautiful and noble goddess, a god with extraordinary bearing, or a beautiful and moving encounter and memory in our hearts.

We will successively launch precious metal works with deep representative significance, such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium series.

Please look forward to them.

Who said that only precious metals can be made into cultural creations and jewelry?

Tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, titanium, rhenium...

Each rare metal has its unique charm.

Choose a suitable metal, 

to give to your friends and lovers, 

to express your true heart.

Ultramet is a newly developed rare metal cultural and creative brand under Ultra Minor Metal Ltd.  Ultra Minor Metal Ltd focuses on the manufacturing and sales of refractory metals and alloys, and gradually extends to a group company that integrates the manufacturing, production, and sales of precious metal and even all-metal elements in the later stage. We have mastered the raw materials and processing techniques of most cultural and creative collections. Ultramet also has inherent advantages in the production of cultural and creative products.

[reasonsforhope]

I'm worried about electronic waste, e-waste recycling, and such loss of resources.

That's real. For what it's worth, I think it's something we're going to get a LOT better at. The raw materials - and even partially depleted materials that can be downcycled - are too valuable to be left forever.

Tip for anyone worried about e-waste or looking to be more environmentally conscious: Whenever I have something electronic that dies (this includes batteries, power cords, string lights, and vapes), I stick it in an out-of-the-way drawer, and then once every year or two, I bring it all to either an e-waste recycling place or an e-waste disposal place (which, my understanding is most e-waste disposal places do a lot of materials reclamation as well, though if I'm wrong someone please correct me). I just look online to find a place.

Sometimes it's a bit of a drive, but it's so worth it. I encourage others to do the same!

Anyway, here's some headlines about e-waste to hopefully lift your spirits:

^That's Western Australia, not Washington state.

[jarofalicesgrunge]

Layne Staley - AiC Performing at Lollapalooza’ 93s

📸 James K Elmer Aka Jim Elmer, Laynes Stepdad :)

[katich-pigeon]

Lifeless children of sorrow

[old-evanescence]

Newly released photos from the Fallen photoshoot, Frank Veronsky, 13.12.2002