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Home , Chemical industry

40 Common and Their Uses

Aluminum Beryllium The most abundant element in Earth’s Used in the nuclear and to make light, crust. Aluminum originates as an oxide called but strong alloys used by the aircraft industry. alumina. Bauxite is the main source of Beryllium are used in fluorescent lamps, aluminum and is imported from Jamaica, , X-ray tubes and as a deoxidizer in bronze metal- Guinea, Guyana, etc. It’s used in transportation lurgy. It is used in computers, telecommunication (automobiles), packaging, /, and electronics products, aerospace and de- electrical, machinery and other applications. The fense applications, appliances, automotive and U.S. was 49 percent import reliant for aluminum , and medical applications. in 2020. The U.S. was 17 percent import reliant. Antimony Chromite A native element, antimony metal is extracted The U.S. consumes about 5 percent of world from stibnite ore and other minerals. It is used chromite ore production in various forms of im- as a hardening for lead, especially storage ported materials, such as chromite ore, chromite batteries and cable sheaths. It’s also used in chemicals, ferroalloys, chromium bearing metal, type metal, solder, collapsible metal and . It’s used as an alloy in tubes and foil, sheet and pipes and semiconduc- stainless and heat resisting steel products. It’s tor . Antimony is used as a flame re- also used in chemical and metallurgical indus- tardant, in and in antimony salts, which tries (chrome fixtures, etc.). Superalloys require are used in the rubber, chemical and chromium. It is produced in South Africa, Ka- industries, as well as medicine and glassmaking. zakhstan and Russia. The U.S. was 75 percent The U.S. was 81 percent import reliant in 2020. import reliant for chromium in 2020. Barium Clays A heavy metal contained in barite. It’s used as It’s used in floor and wall as an absorbent, in a heavy additive in well drilling; in the sanitation, mud drilling, sand bonding, and rubber industries; as a filler or extender in in iron pelletizing, brick, light weight aggregate cloth, and products; in radiography and . Ball clay is used in floor and wall (“barium milkshake”); as a deoxidizer for ; tile. Bentonite is used for drilling mud, pet waste a sparkplug in alloys; and in making expensive absorbent, pelletizing and foundry sand white . bond. Kaolin is used for paper coating and filling, refractory products, , , rubber and Bauxite catalyst manufacture. Common clay is used in Rock composed of hydrated aluminum oxides. brick, light aggregate and cement. The U.S. was In the U.S., it is primarily converted to alumina. not import reliant in 2020. See “aluminum.” The U.S. was more than 75 percent import reliant on bauxite in 2020.

101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Cobalt Fluorite (fluorspar) It’s used primarily in superalloys for aircraft gas It’s used in production of hydrofluoric acid, which turbine engines, cemented carbides for cutting is used in the , , optical, electro- tools and wear-resistant applications, chemi- plating and plastics industries; in the metallurgi- cals (paint dryers, catalysts, magnetic coatings) cal treatment of bauxite; as a flux in open hearth and permanent magnets. The U.S. has cobalt steel furnaces and in metal smelting; in carbon resources in Minnesota, Alaska, California, electrodes; emery wheels; electric arc welders; Idaho, , Montana and Oregon. Cobalt toothpaste; and paint . It is a key ingredi- production comes principally from Congo, , ent in the processing of aluminum and uranium. Canada, Russia, Australia and the Philippines. The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant in 2020. The U.S. was 76 percent import reliant in 2020. Gallium Copper Gallium is used in integrated circuits, light-emit- It’s used in building construction; electric and ting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors and solar electronic products (cables and wires, switches, cells. It has a new use in chemotherapy for , heating); transportation equipment; some types of cancer. Integrated circuits are roofing; chemical and pharmaceutical machin- used in defense applications, high performance ery; and alloys (brass, bronze and beryllium computers and telecommunications. Optoelec- alloyed with copper are particularly vibration tronic devices were used in areas such as aero- resistant); alloy castings; electroplated protective space, consumer , industrial equipment, coatings; and undercoats for nickel, chromium, medical equipment and telecommunications. zinc, etc. More recently, copper is being used Leading sources are China, Russia, and in medical equipment due to its anti-microbial Korea. The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant properties. The has copper mines in 2020. in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana and Michigan. Leading producers are Chile, Gold Peru, China, U.S., Congo and Australia. The Gold is used in jewelry and arts; and U.S. was 37 percent import reliant in 2020. medicine; medallions and coins; ingots as a store of value; scientific and electronic instru- Feldspar ments; and as an electrolyte in the electroplat- A rock- , it’s industrially import- ing industry. It is mined in Alaska and several ant in and industries; patter and western states. Leading producers are China, enamelware; ; bond for wheels; Russia, Australia, U.S. and Canada. The U.S. ; insulating compositions; ; was 52 percent import reliant in 2020. tarred roofing materials; and as a , or filler, in and paper. In pottery and glass, feld- spar functions as a flux. End uses for feldspar in Processed and used as prefabricated wallboard the U.S. include glass (60 percent) and pottery or an industrial or building ; used in ce- and other uses (40 percent). The U.S. was 13 ment ; and other uses. percent import reliant in 2020. The U.S. was 14 percent import reliant in 2020.

101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Halite (sodium chloride ) and electronic applications (TV tubes and glass); It’s used in human and animal diet, both a sea- construction, communications and protective soning and a preservative. It’s also used to pre- coatings; ballast or weights; ceramics or crystal pare , soda ash, caustic soda, glass; X-ray and gamma radiation shielding; , , metallic sodium, soundproofing material and ammunition. Indus- ceramic glazes, , curing of hides, min- trial type batteries are used as a source of un- eral , manufacturing, home interuptible power equipment for computer and softeners, highway de-icing, photography and telecommunications networks and mobile power. in scientific equipment for optical parts. Single Lead is mined mainly in Missouri, but also in crystals used for spectroscopy, ultraviolet and Alaska and Idaho. The U.S. was 24 percent infrared transmission. The U.S. was 27 percent import reliant in 2020. import reliant for salt in 2020. Indium Lithium and lithium compounds are used in bat- Indium tin oxide is used for electrical conductivi- teries; ceramics and glass; lubricating greases; ty purposes in flat panel devices most commonly air treatment and medicine. Lithium consumption in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). It is also used for batteries has increased significantly in recent in solders, alloys, compounds, electrical compo- years due to more extensive use of lithium nents, semiconductors and research. Indium ore in batteries for hand held/portable electronic is not recovered from in the U.S. China is devices, electric tools, electric and the leading producer. It is also produced in Ko- grid storage. Lithium supply has become a top rea, Japan, Canada, and . The priority for U.S. technnology in need U.S. was 100 percent import reliant in 2020. of a reliable and deverse supply. There is one operation in Nevada, two companies that Iron Ore produce a wide range of downstream lithium Used to manufacture steels of various types. compounds, and other operations in the permit- It’s used in powdered iron, metallurgy products, ting process. Australia, Chile, China and Argen- magnets, high-frequency cores, auto parts, tina are major producers. The U.S. was more catalysts. Radioactive iron (iron 59) is used in than 50 percent reliant for lithium in 2020. medicine and in biochemical and metallurgical research. Iron blue is used in , Manganese , plastics, and paper . Ore is essential to iron and steel production. It’s Black iron oxide is used as pigment, polishing also used in the making of manganese ferroal- compounds, metallurgy, medicine and magnetic loys. Construction, machinery and transportation inks. Most U.S. production is in Michigan and end uses account for most U.S. consumption of Minnesota. Australia, Brazil, China and Russia manganese. Manganese ore has not been pro- are the major producers. The U.S. was not im- duced in the U.S. since 1970. Major producers reliant in 2020. are South Africa, Australia, Gabon, Ghana and China. The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant Lead in 2020. It’s used in lead-acid batteries, tanks, solders and seals or bearings. It’s also used in electrical

101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Mica Group (PGMs) Mica commonly occurs as flakes, scales or PGMs includes platinum, , rhodium, shreds. Ground mica is used in paints, joint iridium, osmium and ruthenium. They common- cement, dusting agents, oil well-drilling muds ly occur together in nature and are among the and plastics, roofing, rubber and welding rods. scarcest of the metallic elements. Platinum is Sheet mica is fabricated into parts for electronic used principally in catalysts for the control of and electronic equipment. China and Finland automobile and industrial plant emissions, jew- are leading producers. The U.S. was 31 percent elry, catalysts to produce acids, organic chem- import reliant in 2020. icals and pharmaceuticals. PGMs are found in bushings for making glass fibers used in fiber-re- Molybdenum inforced and other advanced materials, It’s used in alloy steels to make automotive electrical contacts, capacitors, conductive and parts, construction equipment, gas transmission resistive films used in electronic circuits and pipes, stainless steels, tool steels, cast irons, dental alloys used for making crowns and bridg- super alloys and chemicals and lubricants. As a es. South Africa, Russia, Zimbabwe, Canada pure metal, molybdenum is used because of its and the U.S. are major producers. The U.S. was high melting temperature (4,730 F) as filament more than 40 percent import reliant for most supports in light bulbs, metalworking dies and PGMs in 2020. furnace parts. Major producers are China, Chile, U.S. and Peru. The U.S. was not import reliant Rock in 2020. It’s used to produce for ammo- niated phosphate , feed additives for Nickel , elemental , and a variety Vital as an alloy to stainless steel, it plays a key of phosphate chemicals for industrial and home role in the chemical and aerospace industries. consumption. U.S. production occurs in Florida, End uses are transportation, fabricated metal North Carolina, Idaho and Utah. China, Moroc- products, electrical equipment, and co and the U.S. are major producers. It was 10 chemical industries, household appliances and percent import reliant in 2020. industrial machinery. Major producers are the Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia and Australia. The U.S. was 50 percent import It’s a carbonate of potassium. It’s used as a reliant in 2020. fertilizer, in medicine, in the chemical industry. It also can produce decorative color effects on Perlite brass, bronze and nickel. The leading producers Expanded perlite is used in building construction are Canada, Belarus, Russia and China. The products like roof insulation boards and as fill- U.S. was 90 percent import reliant in 2020. ers. It’s also used for horticulture aggregate and filter aids. It’s produced in New Mexico, Oregon Pyrite and other western states and processed in more It’s used in the manufacture of , sulfuric than 20 states. Leading producers are China, acid and sulfur dioxide. Pellets of pressed pyrite Greece, Turkey, U.S., Hungary and Iran. The dust are used to recover iron, gold, copper, U.S. was 28 percent import reliant in 2020. cobalt and nickel. It’s also used to make inex- pensive jewelry.

101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Quartz (Silica) China is the leading producer. The U.S. was 38 As a crystal, quartz is used as a semiprecious percent reliant on silicon metal in 2020. . Crystalline varieties include ame- thyst, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz, etc. Silver Cryptocrystalline forms include agate, jasper, It’s used in coins and medals, electrical and onyx, etc. Because of its piezoelectric proper- electronic devices, industrial applications, jew- ties, quartz is used for pressure gauges, oscil- elry, silverware and photography. The physical lators, resonators and wave stabilizes. Because properties of silver include ductility, electronics of its ability to rotate the plane of polarization conductivity, malleability and reflectivity. It’s used of light and its transparency in ultraviolet rays, in lining vats and other equipment for chemical it’s used in heat-ray lamps, prism and spectro- reaction vessels, water , in the manu- graphic lenses. It’s also used in manufacturing facture of , mirrors, silver plating, table glass, paints, , refractory materials and , dental, medical and scientific equipment, precision instruments. bearing metal, magnet windings, brazing alloys and solder. It’s also used in catalytic converters, Rare Earth Elements (Rare Earth El- cell phone covers, electronics, circuit boards, ements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, bandages for wound care and batteries. Silver is neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, produced in the U.S. at more than 30 base and gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbi- precious metal mines primarily in Alaska and um, thulium ytterbium and lutetium) Nevada. The leading global producers include They are used mainly in petroleum fluid crack- Mexico, Peru, China and Russia. The U.S. was ing catalysts, metallurgical additives and al- 80 percent reliant in 2020. loys, glass polishing and ceramics, permanent magnets and phosphors. It is estimated that 40 (soda ash or trona) pounds of rare earths are used in a hybrid car Used in glass container manufacture; in fiber- for rechargeable battery, permanent magnet mo- glass and specialty glass; also used in produc- tor and regenerative braking systems. The U.S. tion of flat glass; in liquid detergents; in medi- produced rare earth (bastnasite) in Califormnia cine; as a ; photography; cleaning in 2020. More than 50 percent of global produc- and boiler compounds; pH control of water. Most tion is in China. The U.S. was import reliant for U.S. production comes from Wyoming. The U.S. 100 percent of its rare earth metals in 2020. is a major producer and was not import reliant in 2020. Silica Aluminum and aluminum alloy producers and Sulfur the chemical industry are major users of silicon It’s used in the manufacture of , metal. Silica is also used in manufacture of fertilizers, petroleum and metal . computer chips, glass and refractory materials, Elemental sulphur and byproduct sulfuric acid ceramics, abrasives, water systems, were produced in more than 100 operations in component of hydraulic cements, filler in cos- 27 states. The U.S., China, Russia, metics, pharmaceutical, paper, , and Canada are major producers. The U.S. was anti-caking agents in foods, flatting agents in 17 percent import reliant in 2020. paints, thermal insulators, and photovoltaic cells.

101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Tantalum sten was consumed to make tungsten heavy Tantalum is a refractory metal with unique alloys for applications requiring high density, electrical, chemical and physical properties used including electrodes, filaments, wires, and other to produce electronic components, including components for electrical, electronic, heating, tantalum capacitors (found in auto electron- lighting, and welding applications. It can also ics, pagers, personal computers and portable be found in steels, superalloys, wear-resistant telephones). High-purity tantalum metals can alloys and chemicals for various applications. be found in products ranging from weapon China is by far the leading producer. Vietnam, systems to superconductors, high-speed tools, Russia, Mongolia, Bolivia and Rwanda also pro- catalysts, sutures and body implants, electronic duce tungsten. The U.S. is not a producer and circuitry and thin-film components. It’s used in was more than 50 percent import reliant in 2020. optical glass and electroplating devices. Leading producers are Congo, Brazil, Rwanda, China Uranium and Nigeria. The U.S. was 100 percent reliant in Nearly 20 percent of U.S. electricity is produced 2020. using uranium in nuclear generation. It is also used for nuclear medicine, atomic dating, pow- Titanium ering nuclear submarines and other uses in the Titanium mineral concentrates are used primarily U.S. defense system. The U.S. received about by pigment producers. A small 90 percent of its uranium from other countries in amount is used in welding rod coatings and for 2020. manufacturing carbides, chemicals and metals. It is produced in Florida and Georgia. Leading Vanadium producing countries are China, South Africa, Vanadium’s metallurgical use is primarily as an Australia, Mozembique and Canada. The U.S. alloying agent for iron and steel - accounting for was 88 percent reliant in 2020. about 94 percent of domestic vanadium con- sumption. Of the other uses for vanadium, the Titanium and titanium dioxide are used in aero- major non-metallurgical use is in catalysts for space applications (i.e., jet engines, airframes the production of maleic anhydride and sulfuric and space and missile applications). It is also acid. China, Russia, South Africa and Brazil are used in armor, chemical processing, marine, large producers. The U.S. was 96 percent reliant medical, power generation, sporting goods and in 2020. other non-aerospace applications. Titanium sponge metal was produced in three operations Zeolites in Nevada and Utah. The leading global produc- Zeolites are used in animal feed, cat litter, ers are China, South Africa, Australia and Japan. cement, (fish hatcheries for remov- ing from the water), water softener Tungsten and purification, catalysts, odor control and for More than half of the tungsten consumed in the removing radioactive ions from nuclear plant U.S. was used in cemented carbide parts for effluent. The U.S. was not import reliant in 2020. cutting and wear-resistant materials - primarily in the construction, metalworking, mining, and oil- and gas-drilling industries. The remaining tung-

101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Zinc Of the total zinc consumed in the U.S., most was used in galvanizing. Other primary uses included brass, bronze and zinc-based alloys. Zinc compounds and dust were used principally by the agriculture, chemical, paint, and rubber industries.

Major co-products of zinc mining and smelting were lead, sulfuric acid, cadmium, silver, gold and germanium. Zinc is used as protective coating on steel, as die casting, as an alloying metal with copper to make brass and as chem- ical compounds in rubber and paints. It’s also used as sheet zinc and for galvanizing iron; electroplating; metal spraying; automotive parts; electrical fuses; anodes; dry cell batteries; nu- trition; chemicals; roof gutter; engravers’ plates; cable wrappings; organ pipes; and pennies. Zinc oxide is used in medicine, paints, vulcanized rubber and sun block. Zinc dust can be used for primers, paints, precipitation of noble metals and removal of impurities from solutions in zinc electrowinning. U.S. production is in five states and 14 mines. Leading producers are China, Australia, Peru, , the U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. was 83 percent import reliant in 2020.

Sources: The U.S. Geological Survey; the Energy Information Administration

3/2021

101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org