Send clear photos
Photograph the complete component and close-ups of contacts, coatings and markings
Platinum-group metal (PGM)
Sell iridium and iridium-bearing materials
Do you have iridium metal, Pt-Ir alloy, electrodes, contact points, crucibles, technical components, wire or another traceable iridium-bearing lot? Send photos, weight, provenance and material data. For PGM lots we focus on actual iridium content, the substrate or alloy and the assay method required.
Maastricht region · Benelux & international
Lot types
Which Iridium lots can we assess?
Iridium is a highly corrosion-resistant, high-melting platinum-group metal. In industrial scrap it often appears as part of an alloy, coating or technical component rather than as pure bulk metal.
- Iridium metal, wire, plate or compact production remnants with documentation
- Platinum-iridium (Pt-Ir) alloys and traceable laboratory or measurement components
- Contact points and wear-resistant technical parts
- Crucibles and components from crystal growth or other high-temperature processes
- Electrodes, coated components and PGM-bearing industrial parts with known provenance
- Segregated production scrap, used components and remnants with assay or specification
Material & application
Iridium is often used as an alloy, coating or small functional element
Iridium combines a high melting point with exceptional corrosion resistance. It is used in special alloys, electrical contacts, spark plugs, electrodes and high-performance process components. Platinum-iridium is also a well-established material combination.
With a coating or contact point, the gross weight of the entire component may say very little about the quantity of iridium. Substrate, coating thickness, surface area and PGM loading must therefore be assessed separately.
Identification
An iridium-bearing component is not necessarily solid iridium
XRF can support indicative sorting of many solid PGM alloys. With thin coatings, very small contact points or composite parts, the substrate can influence the reading and additional assay may be required.
For Pt-Ir, Ir-bearing coatings and high-value process parts, certificates, part numbers, manufacturer data and known application are particularly useful.
XRF as support for material identification
On homogeneous, accessible metal surfaces, handheld XRF can help indicate iridium in Pt-Ir and other PGM materials. Thin coatings, small contact points and complex substrates can distort the result; in those cases, additional analysis or representative sampling is more useful.
Offer a lot
How to submit this material
State weight and location
State total weight, quantity, dimensions and net precious-metal weight if known
Include material information
Include grade, Pt/Ir ratio, certificate, part number or previous assay
Keep lots segregated
Keep traceable Ir-bearing components separate from unidentified PGM mixtures
Valuation
What determines the assessment and value?
For iridium, the amount of recoverable Ir is fundamental. A Pt-Ir wire, a lightly coated part and a solid Ir component can have the same gross weight but very different commercial values.
Iridium content
Actual Ir percentage or loading is the core driver of value.
Substrate / alloy
Pt-Ir, solid Ir, coating and base-metal component are different material streams.
Assay certainty
Coatings and small functional areas can require specialised assay.
Traceability
Part number, certificate and application can greatly accelerate identification.
Condition & contamination
Process residues, ceramics, solder or other materials affect net recovery.
Quantity & logistics
Count, total weight, packaging and location influence the practical route.
Practical questions
Practical questions — Iridium
Is an iridium spark plug made of solid iridium?
Usually not. Iridium is used in a very small functional contact. For a commercial lot, actual Ir loading and component count matter more than gross weight alone.
Can Pt-Ir alloys be offered?
Yes. Traceable platinum-iridium alloys, wire and components can be assessed. Provide the Pt/Ir ratio or grade where possible.
Can XRF identify iridium?
On suitable solid alloys XRF can support indicative identification. Thin coatings, small contacts and composite components may require another assay method.
Do you assess iridium crucibles or process components?
Traceable crucibles and technical parts can be submitted for assessment. Photos, weight, application, manufacturer and material certification are useful.
Related materials
Other specialist metals
Offer material
Have an iridium lot assessed?
Send photos, weight, quantities and all available information about alloy, coating, part number or application. For coated parts, known layer construction or a previous assay can speed up the assessment.