Platinum gold alloy are high-performance materials composed of platinum combined with other metallic elements. The platinum-gold alloy designed by the Materials Science Team at Sandia National Laboratories is considered the most wear-resistant metal in the world today. This specific formulation of gold platinum alloy consists of 90% platinum and 10% gold, with a strength 100 times greater than high-strength steel. It is the first alloy capable of rivaling natural materials like diamonds and sapphires in terms of wear resistance. Platinum gold alloy not only exhibit outstanding mechanical properties but also possess highly stable chemical properties, being insoluble in strong acids and alkalis, highly resistant to oxidation, and having a high melting point. In certain specific formulations, platinum gold alloy can spontaneously synthesize diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings during friction, which are among the best artificial coating materials in the world, as smooth as graphite and as hard as diamonds.
When applying platinum gold alloy in industrial fields, several key parameters must be considered: hardness, wear resistance, chemical stability, and thermal stability. Platinum gold alloy developed by Sandia National Laboratories exhibit extremely high hardness, estimated to be 100 times higher than high-strength steel. In terms of wear resistance, if this platinum gold alloy were used to manufacture metal tires, approximately only one atomic layer would be consumed over a distance of 1 mile (approximately 1.6 kilometers) of drifting. Platinum gold alloy also exhibit excellent thermal stability, with no significant changes in microstructure even under prolonged cyclic stress during sliding. For jewelry applications, such as the Pt950 platinum/ruthenium alloy, the Vickers hardness reaches 130 HV, far exceeding that of other platinum gold alloy used in jewelry production, while maintaining a 34% elongation.
The recycling price of platinum gold alloy depends on their composition, purity, and form. In 2025, the recycling price for 95% pure platinum scrap was approximately $21 per gram. Alloy materials containing platinum and rhodium have higher recycling value, with high-purity platinum-rhodium wire (Pt ≥ 90%, Rh ≥ 5%) fetching recycling prices of $30–36 per gram. Platinum gold alloy recycling prices are closely linked to the international futures market, with fluctuations of 4-5 USD per gram on the London Metal Exchange (LME). Regional policies also influence recycling prices, such as China's policy of granting a 10% VAT refund to companies with annual recycling volumes exceeding 30 tons, which drives local quotes up by 5%-8%.
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The recycling value of platinum gold alloy in industrial applications is significant, especially considering the limited global reserves of platinum and the high costs of extraction. Global platinum ore reserves total only 71,000 tons, and at current extraction rates, South Africa's reserves are projected to be depleted within 40 years. Recycling platinum gold alloy has become an important way to replenish resources. Currently, the global platinum powder recovery rate is only 46%, and the recycled supply is expected to decrease by 4% in 2025. From an application perspective, Catalytic Converter are the primary application for platinum gold alloy. Each vehicle compliant with Euro VI standards requires 8–12 grams of platinum, with global annual platinum consumption in Catalytic Converter reaching 324.5 million ounces (approximately 100.8 tons). Precious metal recyclers also have stable demand for high-value-added platinum gold alloy in the electronics and medical industries. For example, platinum-iridium alloy heart pacemaker electrodes have a lifespan exceeding 15 years, and global annual demand for medical-grade platinum is growing by 5%. Advances in recycling technology have also enhanced the recycling value of platinum gold alloy, with advanced hydrochloric acid-hydrogen peroxide gradient leaching methods achieving recovery rates of up to 99.97%.
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