Cobalt products introduction

Cobalt is a shiny steel-gray metal, melting point is1495, specific gravity is 8.9. Cobalt is a ferromagnetic metal, similar with iron and nickel phase in hardness, tensile strength, machinability, thermodynamic properties and electrochemical behavior. Cobalt metal is very stable in the wet air and water at room temperature, also does not react with alkali and organic matter.

The major products of cobalt have cobalt-based chemical products, metal state products of cobalt (cobalt sheet, cobalt powder). With the product processing technology deepening and product upgrades, value-added cobalt products have been increasing. The vast majority of cobalt are byproducts, which generated in exploiting copper and nickel, individual production is less likely, its production scale was affected by copper, nickel mineral development in a large extent. The cobalt yield of the Chinese market is depending on the supply of the world's cobalt markets cobalt ore and intermediate products and the like.

Battery material is the most important consumer materials of cobalt, accounting for about 60% of the total cobalt consumption. The main constituent materials of the lithium-ion cell includes electrolyte, insulating materials, positive and negative materials. Lithium cobalt is one of the most common metal materials. Lithium battery is mainly used in mobile phones, laptop field, electric bicycles and new energy cars field. The new energy vehicles will be the main growth point of electric lithium demand. Another major use of cobalt is in the production of high-temperature, heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant cemented carbide. Cemented carbide is composed of hard materials (tungsten, titanium) and good toughness particulate material (cobalt, nickel) extruded adhesive. Cemented Carbide is widely used as tool material, such as turning tool, milling, planer, drill, boring knife, for cutting cast iron, nonferrous metals, plastics, chemical fiber, graphite, glass, stone and ordinary steel, also can be used to cut  heat resistant steel, stainless steel, high manganese steel, tool steel and other hard to processing materials. Cemented carbide can be used to make drilling tools, mining tools, boring tools, measuring tools, wear parts, metal grinding, cylinder liners, precision bearings, nozzles. Superalloy is one of another main consumption of cobalt, in 2011, superalloy accounts for nearly 20% of the global cobalt consumption, while China is only 4%. The proportion of consumption in China will be bigger and bigger.

Superalloy is the alloy which can withstand stress and has anti-oxidation or corrosion resistance at 600-1200. In the consumption of high-temperature alloys, aerospace, energy, propulsion, industrial, automotive industry and other areas respectively accounted for 64%, 24%, 5%, 3%, 2% and 2%. Aerospace engine is the main consumption part of superalloy in aerospace industry. According to metal powder supplier, magnetic metal is another purpose of cobalt. Magnetic materials play a very important role in the electronics industry and other high-tech fields. Cobalt can be used as high-grade glass and ceramic color dye, cobalt used in the glass ceramic industry has been relatively stable. Cobalt is also widely used in various hydrogenation catalysts of petroleum refining. Cobalt-based catalysts, such as cobalt acetate has an important role in the synthesis of the catalyst.

Currently, the price of cobalt was at the bottom of history. In the long run, the supply of cobalt is limited by copper, nickel mining, has diverse demands and there is a certain inevitability in demand growth. Especially in the field of lithium batteries, there is not appeared better alternative, if the new energy vehicles get promotion, then the global cobalt consumption will be greatly increased.

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