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What Are the Uses of Cobalt?

Cobalt (Co) is a metal usually obtained through mining nickel, silver, lead, copper and iron. Georg Brandt discovered it in 1739 while attempting to prove that some minerals could color glass blue. Today, cobalt's uses range from health and nutrition to industrial uses. The United States government considers cobalt to be a strategic metal, because its absence in a national emergency would affect the economic, industrial, and defensive capabilities of the country. Most cobalt used in the United States is imported.

  1. Alloys in Industry

    • Superalloys containing cobalt make up half the cobalt used each year. The superalloys are used to make jet engines and gas turbine engines. Alnico produces strong magnets when aluminum, nickel, and cobalt are combined in alloy form. These permanent magnets can be found in hearing aids, compasses, microphones and even in automotive airbag systems. Cutting tools can be made with stellite alloys, which contain cobalt, chromium, and tungsten.

    Electroplating

    • Cobalt is used in electroplating, a process in which a layer of material is applied to an object to give it a particular aesthetic or protective quality. Cobalt provides objects with an attractive surface that prevents rusting.

    Alternative Energy

    • Cobalt is known to improve rechargeable batteries and can be an important part of the battery systems of hybrid electric vehicles.

    Orthopedic Implants

    • Cobalt alloys are used in orthopedic implants alongside titanium and stainless steel. The Idaho Cobalt Project states that approximately 70 percent of hip replacements use cobalt-chrome femoral stems.

    Fighting Cancer

    • Cobalt can treat some forms of cancer in the form of cobalt-60, a radioactive isotope of the element that produces gamma rays. Cobalt-60 can also be used to sterilize medical supplies.

    Nutrition

    • In the form of chloride, sulfate, acetate or nitrate, it can correct mineral deficiency in grazing animals living on cobalt-deficient soil. Cobalt is an essential part of vitamin B12.

    Art

    • Cobalt salts can be used to produce shades of blue in porcelain, glass, pottery and tiles.

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