Cobalt was discovered in 1735 by a Swedish chemist, George Brandt. It was also detected in Egyptian statuettes and Persian necklace beads made in the 3rd millennium. In other words, cobalt has been with us, but some scientists have rediscovered it.
Interestingly, cobalt has been found in small quantities in terrestrial habitats, such as deep in the oceans, in minerals such as linnaeite and cobaltite.
Cobalt is often discovered as a by-product from mining ores of iron, silver, zinc, and copper. Right now, the world’s leading producers of cobalt are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), China, Canada, and Russia. Read and learn more about cobalt.
What Are the Properties of Cobalt?
Cobalt chrome was among the first metals discovered during prehistoric times. Now that you have a little history of cobalt, let’s examine its various properties.
- Hard: Cobalt is a hard metal. It is a hard ferromagnetic element that is silver-white in color and brittle.
- Stable: Compared to other elements, the cobalt is stable in the air. Also, it doesn’t react when it comes in contact with water.
- Magnetized: Cobalt attracts magnets like other metals. You would expect it not to be magnetized because of its physical features, but it does.
- Melting point: Cobalt melting point is 1495 °C. Meanwhile, the boiling point of this precious metal is 2927 °C.
Uses of Cobalt You Didn’t Know
Cobalt is a versatile metal that offers manufacturers a lot of flexibility. What’s more, cobalt is used to manufacture some of your favorite home items. Below are the uses of cobalt that you may not have known.
Cobalt is used to manufacture alloys for aircraft engines, gas turbines, and high-speed steels. Also, you can use cobalt to manufacture corrosion-resistant alloys and cemented carbides.
If you are wondering about the metallic material that was used in the production of magnets, it’s cobalt. You can use cobalt to produce magnetic recording media.
Cobalt is an important metallic item used in producing several things in the petroleum industry. You can use cobalt to produce catalysts used in cars and other petroleum and chemical industries. Also, the vehicle battery is one part of your vehicle that uses cobalt.
Cobalt is an important element that is used to produce paints. Cobalt is also used as a drying agent for paints and inks. Therefore, the agent that allows your paint to dry up quickly is cobalt.
Cobalt has also found its way into the medical industry. It is used to preserve food and protect consumers, and cobalt-60 is used in medical treatment.
Mining of Cobalt
Cobalt mining and processing are not one-way traffic. Cobalt is extracted from the surface of the earth and seas, as well as from by-products of copper and nickel mining.
It is mined open-pit or underground. Then, it is processed through floating, roasting, leaching, or electrowinning.
Conclusion
Cobalt is a versatile metal that offers manufacturers a lot of flexibility. The automobile industry heavily relies on cobalt to produce batteries and other components, and its value has increased over the years.
