Fabrications and iridium crucibles

Our expert knowledge of precious metals has made us a trusted supplier of platinum group metal (PGM) fabrications. We supply a range of customers, from crystal growers to glass manufacturers, where our inert products provide high strength and unequalled resistance to corrosion.

specifications

Our iridium crucibles are available with:

  • Standard sizes with volumes ranging from 30cm 3 to >6000cm 3
  • Wall thickness from <1mm to 4mm (0.04-0.157")
  • Standard flat-bottoms with an edge radius of around 6mm (0.236"). Alternatively we can form a radius or hemispherical base, and an internal radius at the base of 6-8mm can be supplied
  • Seam welds dressed on the inside, which can also be dressed on the outside if required.

Fabrications and linings for glass manufacturing

As a long-established supplier of platinum group metals, our fabrications and linings for the glass industry withstand thermal cycling, ceramic cracking and exchange of contacting parts. We can provide:

  • Sheet, to standard or customised tolerances with full traceability
  • Tube for bubblers, drains and thermocouple sheaths, manufactured seamless or with a seam weld to the highest possible quality and tolerances
  • More complex parts such as stirrers, spout bowls, refiners or feeder chambers, customised to your designs and tolerances.

We offer several options for fabrications and linings but we provide a tailored recommendation to minimise costs and maximise benefits. We weld sheet from 0.35mm-10mm thick to achieve full penetration with minimum distortion. If desired, we can dress welds so they aren't visible.

 

  

 

Iridium crucibles and fabrications

Iridium is an ideal alternative to platinum/rhodium alloys for the most innovative and demanding applications, including glass manufacturing and growing high purity single crystals. We have invaluable expertise of working with this difficult metal to produce outstanding fabrications, often working with complex customer drawings. Its benefits include:

  • Stability in air up to 2000°C
  • A higher mechanical strength than zirconia grain stabilised alloys
  • Being stable to reduction (although they may require some oxidation protection, which we can provide)
  • Resistance to chemical attack

Iridium's high melting point, mechanical strength and resistance to chemical attack make it ideal for growing high purity single crystals. Our iridium crucibles are used to grow various metal oxide single crystals, including scintillation crystals used in metal scanners and mobile phones as well as those used in liquid crystal display backlighting.

Our low level doping of iridium alloys used to make crucibles improves the service life and performance, specifically for growing lithium tantalate crystals.

Get in touch

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Les Hutton

+44 (0) 1763 253348
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Jenn Gaudino

USA
+1 610 648 8079