Platinum Metals Review - Volume 51, Issue 1, 2007

Palladium nanoparticles of different sizes and shapes combined with polyaniline and derivatives of polyaniline can give rise to a host polymer with interesting physical properties and important potential applications. The resulting composite can be produced in the form of nanofibres, nanorods, thin films, etc. Potential applications of this composite material for catalysis and sensor systems are discussed.

The relatively recent application of laser welding and spot welding to platinum has supplemented the traditional joining techniques of conventional welding and brazing with a gas torch. Several recent publications (1–3) have promoted the use of laser welding, because of the superior strength of the joins compared with that of joins by conventional welding and brazing. In this paper we compare welds in three different platinum alloys, produced with three different welding techniques: conventional welding, laser welding and spot welding. The welds joining cold-rolled bars were performed by jewellers operating in their own workshops. The extents of the heat affected zones and consequent decrease in hardness were assessed in our laboratory. Laser and spot welding produced very narrow heat affected zones, with correspondingly narrow regions of diminished hardness, while the conventional welding resulted in samples being annealed and softened for their full lengths. Complete joining was difficult to achieve by laser and particularly spot welding, which could be problematic in joining thicker sections. With this knowledge, jewellers can design appropriately to take advantage of the novel joining techniques.