Platinum Metals Review - Volume 12, Issue 1, 1968

Platinum containing small quantities of a dispersed carbide phase is stronger at high temperatures than many of the rhodium-platinum alloys produced by conventional techniques. It is stable under oxidising conditions and its valuable increments of strength are achieved without sacrificing any of the desirable characteristics traditionally associated with the use of platinum as a structural element. The physical and mechanical properties of this new material are described in this article and some possible applications briefly reviewed.

Because of their high melting points and lack of chemical reactivity with oxide materials at high temperatures, several of the platinum metals are very useful as container materials for molten oxides. This article describes the use of platinum, rhodium and iridium in the vertical pulling of oxide crystals from the melt. Such crystals form the basis of many solid state lasers and other electronic devices.