• Question: How would one use osmium in engineering? Or, for that matter, anything?

    Asked by Harukaoki to Matthew, Neil, Pete, Philippa on 18 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Neil Taylor

      Neil Taylor answered on 18 Mar 2015:

      Hi Harukaoki!

      I have no idea! Apparently it’s the least abundant stable element in the Earth’s crust, is hard to work/machine/form, and is expensive… so has a lot going against it!

      However, it is dense, hard, resistant to corrosion, and resistant to compression. Its alloys are used in applications where resistance to friction is needed (e.g. ball tip pens, record player needles), and an alloy of 90% platinum and 10% osmium is used to make pacemakers.

      I feel like I learned something today 😀

      Hope this helps!

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