Wogen PLC

Bismuth

For over 150 years Bi compounds have been used in medicine. Bismuth is also used in the production of x-rays and scanners, and has recently replaced lead in shot gun cartridges.

Boron

Used as a dopant in semi-conductors, as well as an absorber of Neutrons in Nuclear applications. Boron is also used in special Steel alloys. Boron compounds such as its Nitride and Carbide are used in thin powder film technology.

Cadmium

Traditionally one of the major uses for Cadmium has been in the production of yellow pigment. More recently the metal has been used in NiCd batteries, which were the first rechargeable batteries readily available and helped to make portable music so popular.

Chromium

Chromium metal is used particularly as an alloying additive to other metals to give strength, hardness, corrosion and heat resistance. It can be found in many superalloys for a variety of applications from aerospace alloys, to alloys for marine and land based turbines. It is also used in aluminium and copper alloys and in the welding industry. Electrolytic chromium metal in a high purity form can be used to manufacture chromium targets for thin film coatings in the electronic industry.

Cobalt

Cobalt has a variety of applications which include superalloys, corrosion resistant alloys, high speed tool steels, magnets, cemented carbides, pigments, rechargeable batteries and chemical catalysts.

Gallium

Gallium is used in LED’s to provide traditional Green, Red and the full range of colours found in digital systems.

Germanium

As a metal it is used in some night vision systems. As dioxide it is a catalyst in the production of PET for the production of bottles for fizzy drinks.

Hafnium

Hafnium is produced from Zirconium sands. The material is used as a special alloying agent, but is in short supply. Increasing use of exotic metals for high temperature Nickel alloys has increased demand for Hafnium.

Indium

80% of the world’s Indium is used in the production of ITO for Flat Panel Displays. This market is on a strong growth curve being used in laptops, digital cameras as well as TVs and computer monitors.

Iridium

Used in the production of crucibles and alloying with other Platinum Group metals.

Lithium

Lithium is a highly reactive metal used as an alloying element for Aluminium. Recently Lithium has also found a large application in Lithium Ion batteries, which offer a good power range and there are even greater possibilities in the use of Lithium Polymer for Electronic Vehicles.

Magnesium

Magnesium is used particularly in the aluminium, die casting, steel and chemical industries. It can be found in products ranging from aerospace aluminium alloys to automotive parts

Manganese

Manganese is used in large quantities in the production of steel. As a metal flake or lump, Mn is added for 200 series steels as a cheaper alternative to 300 series steels which use Nickel. Mn is also used in the production of Aluminium alloys as a hardener. As an oxide it is used as a colorant.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum's main use is as an alloy element in stainless steel. It is principally produced as a by-product of copper but primary mining is also pursued in China, Russia and North America.

Ferro Molybdenum

Ferro Molybdenum is used as an alloy addition to stainless steel grades to enhance strength, hardenability, toughness and resistance to wear and corrosion.

Molybdenum Metal

Pure Molybdenum metal is used as an additive in the superalloy and special steel industries.

Molybdenum Oxide

Molybdenum Oxide (MoO3) also known as roasted Molybdenum Concentrates is the raw material to produce Ferro Molybdenum but can also be used as a direct addition in the production of stainless steel.

Molybdenum Concentrates

World reserves of Molybdenum Sulphide Concentrates (MoS2) are estimated at 19 million tons with the largest proportion located in China (40%) followed by the USA (30%). The majority of production comes as a by product of cooper porphyry mines in the USA, Canada and South America.

Niobium

Niobium is used as an alloying agent in high temperature alloys and steels. Nuclear reactor cores are constructed with niobium alloys because niobium does not react chemically with uranium and because it is resistant to corrosion. This refractory element is frequently used in artificial joints, plates, pacemakers and dental implants.

Osmium

Used traditionally for pen nibs this metal now has applications in sputtering targets.

Palladium

Palladium is used in a variety of different catalysts and as a paste for dental fillings. Also used as a bonding medium in printed circuit boards.

Platinum

Its main use is in car catalysts and in jewelry, particularly in Japan where they like to wear wedding rings whiter than traditional yellow gold.

Rhenium

Rhenium is increasingly used as an additive to alloys used in aircraft engines, as they move to leaner burning, but higher running temperature conditions. Usually found as a by-product of Moly production.

APR

Rhenium is also used in the form of Ammonium Perrhenate (APR) which is used as a catalyst in the petro-chemical refining industry.

Rhodium

Rhodium's main application is as one of the active ingredients in car catalysts to reduce the emissions of NOx and CO. It has recently found growing demand from the glass industry in the production of special substrate glass for the flat panel displays in computers, TVs etc. It is mainly produced in South Africa and Russia. Some jewelry and cutlery is Rhodium coated to give added luster.

Ruthenium

Ruthenium is one of the less volatile PGMs but with occasional bursts of activity. New applications in catalysts and alloying applications can upset the supply demand equation.

Antimony

About 80% of refined Antimony metal production is consumed in the manufacture of Antimony Trioxide, 90% of which is used for fire retardants and the balance for high purity applications (e.g. Catalysts). Other uses are in the ceramics and glass industry (Sodium Antimonate), lead-acid batteries, pigments and in the rubber industry as a vulcanising agent.

Products:

Sb metal, Sb concentrates, Sb Trioxide

Selenium

Was used as an alloy in the production of Photocopier drums. Now mainly used as a feed supplement for animals and in the production of glass. Selenium is also used as a starter for the production of Mn metal. With the huge increase in production in China of Mn metal over the last 5 years, consumption of Se as SeO2 has increased dramatically.

Silicon

Another metal that is alloyed with Aluminium. It is also used as the raw material in the production of high purity silicon for IC's.

Tantalum

Tantalum oxide capacitors are used in large quantities in mobile phones and other electronic goods. Because of its high melting point, tantalum is used in the electronics industry for heating elements, shields and vacuum furnaces in the production of tantalum capacitors. Tantalum is also often used in medical applications because it is inert to the body's fluids. Tantalum heat transfer units are also used in steel production pickling lines.

Tellurium

Tellurium has been known to impart a strong smell of garlic to people handling the metal. Mainly used as an additive in steel and for copper alloys. Tellurium has also found a new application in peltier devices which have been used in water coolers, but more recently as cooling devices for IC applications.

Titanium

Titanium Sponge

Titanium sponge is produced by the Kroll process from titanium oxide mineral sands. Off-grade titanium sponge, in which Wogen specialise, is used as an alloy addition to steel, and as an additive in the aluminium industry. The price of titanium sponge more than doubled in 2005 due to strong global demand from the aircraft and steel industries.

Ferro Titanium

Ferro Titanium is used as an alloy addition to steel. The United Kingdom, including Willan-Wogen Alloys Ltd, used to be the largest producing country, but now Russia is the leading exporter.

Titanium Metal

Titanium metal is well known for its low density and high corrosion resistance, and is used for aircraft parts, and a variety of other commercial applications from nuclear power stations to golf clubs.

Rutile

Rutile sand (Ti02) has applications in the welding industry and Titanium sponge production.

Thallium

Thallium was in the past used for poisoning rats (and other mammals!). Recently it has started to be used in electronic applications.

Tungsten

Tungsten is used in High Speed Steel and cutting tools for its wear resistant properties. Also because of its density it is increasingly used to lower the centre of gravity of golf clubs, and hopefully player's handicaps.

Ammonium ParaTungstate

Ammonium ParaTungstate (APT) is an intermediary product mainly used for the production of cemented carbides, also known as hardmetals, for mining tools, cutting tools and wear parts.

Ferro Tungsten

Ferro Tungsten is used in the production of high speed steels and tool steels, which refers to their ability to cut metals at high speeds.

Tungsten Concentrates

The two most marketable Tungsten Ore Concentrates are Wolframite and Scheelite.

Tungsten Metal

World reserves are estimated at 7 million tons with China as the dominant producer.

Blue & Yellow Tungsten Oxide

Yellow Tungsten Oxides and Blue Tungsten Oxides are intermediates for the production of Tungsten compounds and Tungsten metal powder.

Vanadium

Vanadium is used mainly as an alloying addition in the production of certain carbon steels for its strengthening properties (e.g. construction steel reinforcing bar), and also in Titanium alloying, chemicals and catalysts. Vanadium is recovered as a by-product from pig iron production, as a residue from fuel burning and also from some primary mines. The main producing regions are South Africa, China and Russia.

Vanadium Pentoxide

Ferro Vanadium

Zirconium

Zircon sand (Zr02) is used in the manufacture of ceramics as a glaze. Zirconium in metallic form is used in the nuclear industry for its ability to absorb neutrons. Zr metal is also finding new applications in light alloys, as it has similar properties to Titanium, being light but strong.