What Is Platinum Used For?

September 27, 2019 By swj-eric

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If you want to Sell Your Platinum, you’ll be glad to know that it’s always in demand.

In fact, it’s one of the most valuable metals you can sell. That’s because platinum is used for many reasons, including fine jewelry like Engagement Rings.

What Is Platinum?

Platinum is a rare silvery-white metal. To the untrained eye, it may look like white gold or silver.

Usually, it occurs as native platinum, or platinum uncombined with other elements. Most of these native deposits occur in South Africa, where 80% of the world’s platinum is mined.

There isn’t much platinum to begin with, though. Compared to platinum, about 15 times more gold and 150 times more silver has been mined.

However, Platinum is most known for its impressive level of durability. As a remarkably hard metal, it’s resistant to high temperature, corrosion, and oxidation. It’s also the least reactive metal, which means it doesn’t easily dissolve in strong acid.

Furthermore, platinum is hypoallergenic and safe for people with sensitive skin.

The Many Uses Of Platinum

Thanks to its strength and resilience, platinum is used in an array of industries, including:

Jewelry

As you can probably guess, this stunning metal is often used for jewelry.

Since platinum is so strong, it’s resistant to scratching, warping, or bending. It also doesn’t oxidize, so it won’t tarnish over time. Even the skin’s natural oils and sweat won’t affect this precious metal.

Automobiles

While platinum is popular in the jewelry industry, most of it is used in automobiles. A majority of Platinum Metal ends up in vehicles like cars, buses, and trucks.

Specifically, platinum is used to make catalytic converters. A catalytic converter is a device that turns toxic gases from an automobile’s engine into less harmful substances. Platinum is ideal for this purpose because it catalyzes, or speeds up, the necessary chemical reactions to decrease the toxic emissions.

Electronics

Platinum is also utilized in electronics. It’s applied to electrodes, which manage the flow of electricity through a device. The Precious Metal is also used to make electrical components like thermocouples, computer hard drives, and circuit boards.

Glass screens

A liquid crystal display (LCD) contains platinum. This includes the LCD screens on devices like computers, smartphones, digital watches, and calculators.

Medicine

Platinum is also used in medical equipment like dental implants, surgical tools, and pacemakers. It’s even utilized in platinum-based chemotherapy, which is designed to kill certain types of cancer cells.

Additionally, platinum is used in:

  • Aerospace equipment
  • Turbine blades
  • Production of fertilizers, plastics, and synthetic textiles  
  • Strong magnets
  • Laboratory tools

Sell Your Platinum At Southwest Jewelry Buyers

As you can see, platinum is used for many applications. It’s also extremely rare, making it one of the most expensive metals you can sell.

To get started, bring your platinum to Southwest Jewelry Buyers. Our professional buyers are ready to examine and appraise your pieces for what they’re worth. If you’d like to move forward, we’ll complete the transaction in a timely and ethical fashion.

Visit us in Scottsdale Airpark in Scottsdale, Arizona. We’re available by appointment six days a week. Call Us at (480) 773-8004 to schedule an appointment.