Cobalt has few, but highly specialized, uses in alloy steels. The characteristic of cobalt alloys are akin to nickel, in that it forms an entire series of solid solutions with iron at elevated temperatures and they are also highly soluble in ferrite. However, were you ever curious where companies get cobalt metals from? Here’s an article that will tackle the natural abundance and uses of cobalt.
Cobalt Basics
Natural Abundance
A massive reserve of various transition metals including cobalt can be found in bizarre nodules on the floor of the deepest oceans. These nodules are known as manganese minerals and they take centuries to form.Likewise, cobalt comes from minerals such as erythrite, skutterudite, and cobaltite. Most of the essential ore deposits are located in Brazil, Zambia, Australia, Canada, and DR Congo. A lot of this cobalt is created as a by-product of nickel refining.
Uses of Cobalt
Just like iron, cobalt can also be magnetized, making it an ideal component in the production of magnets. Basically, cobalt is alloyed with nickel and aluminum to produce potent and durable magnets.Cobalt alloys are also widely used in gas turbine and jet turbine generators. The reason for such is that this type of alloy can withstand high-temperature strength. Since these generators require components that can endure high temperatures, cobalt alloys are perfect components in the production process.Additionally, because these alloys contain high amounts of chromium, they offer exceptional corrosion resistance at high temperatures. While they are not as strong as nickel alloys when it comes to lower temperatures, they are more wieldable.
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Get Durable Parts Made from Cobalt Alloys!
At Ferralloy, Inc., we aim to provide industrial companies with durable parts that can withstand the pressure caused by the environment. We are the leading global supplier of engineered products and services. If you need additional information about cobalt and nickel alloys, contact us today.