Indium Uses

Indium is a rare metallic element, occurring 61st in the crustal abundance and is only three times as abundant as silver. Indium, added to the periodic table as the 49th element, was discovered in 1863, in Germany.

The name Indium is derived from the Indigo color spectrum of this element as observed in the spectral line. In Chemistry, Indium is chemically represented by the formula In. Indium is a lustrous silvery white element. Owing to its easier malleability and ductility properties, there are extensive uses of this metallic element in fabricating works.

Even at temperatures close to absolute zero, Indium can easily retain its physical properties like softness that makes it an obvious choice for many cryogenics and vacuum applications. Indium uses have increased drastically in the recent years owing to its various advantages in the consumer electronics industry. Here are some physical properties of Indium in tabulated form.


What are the Uses of Indium?

The boom in the semiconductor industry since the last few decades created the demand for extensive Indium usage in a variety of products, chips, transistors and electronic appliances. The craze and popularity of LCD Tvs in the recent years has increased tremendously and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), an oxide of Indium is widely used in manufacturing of LCD monitors. The increasing uses of indium in the television industry has sought up the price of Indium by many hundred dollars per kilogram. In fact, 50% of the Indium consumption goes in the making liquid crystal displays. LCDs, as we all know are important parts of computer screens, flat screen tv and flat televisions. LCDs also find extensive use in GPS receivers, cameras, PDAs, answering machines and other various setups.

Nearly 15% of Indium consumption goes in the manufacturing of electrical components. Indium is commonly used in Infrared detectors, high speed transistors and photovoltaic devices. Since Indium has a very low melting point and ability to conduct electricity, it is used in making of solders and alloys.

Indium also finds extensive use in coatings of glasses. Although such coatings are transparent, they reflect the infrared rays. Some of the classic examples of Indium usage is in coatings that are very popular in making aircraft windows, building windows, doors, refrigerators and ovens.

Indium tin oxide is popular in low pressure sodium lamps. In the nuclear reactors, Indium's neutrons find extensive use in control rods of the reactors. In the medical field, Indium leukocyte scintigraphy finds various uses in drug related cases and monitoring the functioning of white blood cells. Some more Indium uses are as follows:

• Indium Oxide (In₂O₃) and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) are used as coatings in electroluminescent panels.
• Indium antimonide, Indium phosphide and indium nitride are some of the semiconductor materials popular in the industry.
• Indium is used in LED lights and laser diodes.
• In building or architectural glasses, Indium coating is done to avoid harmful infrared rays of the sun to enter the homes and buildings. Due to coatings, the harmful rays of sun are reflected back.
• Indium is used as a solder alloy owing to its ability to fill the difference of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of two different metals that cause breakage between metal joints due to contraction and expansion.

In the coming years, it can be predicted that indium will be used extensively owing to the upsurge LCD screens in every type of media set up. However, the supply of Indium and hence its price is dependent on the commercial availability of this element. China accounts for world's 60% Indium production and the US relies on it and other countries for its Indium requirements.