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Question
Category: Commercial
Subject: Osmium applications
Answer
Osmium is a very dense, hard metal, and is used in high-friction applications such as fountain pen tips, instrument pivots, and electrical contacts.
Osmium in powdered form readily oxidises in air to form the toxic osmium tetroxide, which is used in the detection of fingerprints and as a forensic stain for microscope slides.
Osmium is also used in catalysis for chemical processes.
Patent activity can provide a useful guide to current interest in a material. See Osmium: The Patent Landscape and references cited therein.
For further information on osmium and its applications please see:
The International Platinum Association
Answer posted 14 August 2006
Submitted by: Mr Tom Cobett
Affiliation: OmniSource Corporation
Answered by: Sara Coles
Affiliation: Platinum Metals Review