The platinum group metals (pgms) are characterised by their high melting points and resistance to corrosion. The glass industry most commonly uses platinum, platinum-rhodium alloys and, recently, iridium. These protect a variety of components and ceramic substrates used in glass manufacture from erosion by molten glass, including thermocouples, furnace and forehearth parts. This protection takes the form of a fabricated part or a coating applied to a substrate. Glass manufacturers use these pgm products to get financial benefits, such as increased output, reduced downtime, extended equipment life, shape retention of ceramic parts and fewer defects in the end product. Another important advantage is that pgms are recyclable: as with glass, precious metals can be recycled, melted and reused indefinitely. In addition to these advantages, a choice of pgm-based technologies is available to the industry and this flexibility ensures that both protection and metal use can be optimised. The platinum group metals (pgms) have been used for many years in the glass industry. Due to their high melting points and superior resistance to corrosion, they are invaluable for protecting manufacturing equipment from attack by molten glass and corrosive vapours. Although the initial cost of pgms may be high, they are fully recyclable and, depending on the product, 95% to 98% of the metal can usually be recovered and converted into revenue once the useful life of the component is over. While there are many established products available to glass manufacturers, newer options with their own unique characteristics are being introduced to complement these. This article provides a brief overview of the use of pgms for glass manufacture, including typical materials, where they find application and the benefits they offer. It will also consider how pgm products are positioned to respond to more challenging requirements as the glass market evolves.
