Metals for a Green Future     Associated Metals The Metals listed below are all elements that were either produced from Kutessay II, or Metals that have surface showings in Stans’ licensed areas. Thorium Currently, Thorium is a high priced element because it is not mined in mass amounts, due to its few commercial uses. However, Thorium has the potential to be a very important element for the planet’s future. World-wide research is proving that the element has the potential to fuel safe nuclear energy for power plants, eliminating many of the environmental problems that uranium plants and reactors pose. It also has the ability to convert much of the world’s nuclear waste into cheap electricity. India, America, Russia, France and Japan are leading the way for Thorium research, and its future will be entirely dependent on each country’s energy plans. In the meantime, Thorium will continue to be used in portable gas lights, petroleum cracking, high quality camera lenses, scientific instruments, high-temperature laboratory crucibles, as an alloying element for magnesium, and as a coating agent for tungsten wire. Sliver Silver is the best known reflector of visible light, and therefore it is combined with glass to create mirrors. Because of its reflective abilities, the metal is proving to be important in the efficiency of new solar energy mechanisms by concentrating light sources onto absorption panels and heat generating devices. Silver is most widely used in Sterling jewelry, silverware, and other aesthetic products where appearance is the driver of the value. Less known uses of Silver include dental alloys, brazing alloys, high-capacity batteries, and electrical contacts. Molybdenum Molybdenum is a valuable alloying agent that is used to create high strength steels that can endure extreme temperatures. The metal is also used in electrical applications, missile and aircraft parts, nuclear reactors, petroleum refining, fertilizers, and as a lubricant substitute for machines that operate at high temperatures. Bismuth Pure bismuth has few uses, but as an alloy, or in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, catalysts, or paints, the element can be very valuable. As an alloy, bismuth expands when it solidifies, allowing the metal to fill molds perfectly, and giving it use in pluming applications. It also has a low melting point, enabling the hollowing, and shaping of machine parts by melting the bismuth alloy once the shape of the molded material has solidified. This melting property also is the trigger for building sprinkler systems. It is also used in stomach medicines, bullets, cosmetics, catalysts of acrylic fibers, and ceramic paints. Zinc Zinc is popular galvanizing agent for iron and steel to prevent rust, since it minimally reacts with water and air. It is also used as an alloy for making brass, bronze, and other metals. The remainder of Zinc’s uses can be found in paint, chemicals, agricultural applications, in the rubber industry, in TV screens, fluorescent lights and for dry cell batteries. Zirconium Zirconium is highly resistant to corrosion and so it is utilized in pumps, valves, nuclear reactor cores, and to line furnaces. When alloyed with niobium, it becomes a superconductor at low temperatures. Zirconium does not absorb neutrons, and this makes it useful for fuel cladding in nuclear reactors and for coating nuclear fuel. The element can also be found in deodorants, artificial gemstones, and flashlights. Niobium Niobium is another element with unique physical and chemical properties, enabling it to be used in many different applications. It is used as a superconductor in very low temperature environments, and it plays a significant role in particle accelerators. As an alloy, niobium-titanium wires are used in superconductor magnets that generate powerful magnetic fields. The element can be found in arc welding rods for stainless steel, in steel alloys, jet engines, gas turbines, and heat resisting and combustion equipment. Niobium has a unique ability to store electrical charges, and so it is used as a substitute for Tantalum capacitors, which are considerably more expensive. Lastly, Niobium is considered a precious metal, and is molded into coins and jewelry. Tantalum Tantalum is one of the rarest elements on earth, and its unique physical properties make it valuable for many applications. It is mainly used for its electrical storage abilities in capacitors and other electronic components. We can all thank tantalum for being directly responsible for the miniaturization of the world’s electronic products. The element can withstand high temperatures, and therefore is used in jet engines, and chemical processing facilities. Tantalum can be found in many surgical applications, prosthetic limbs, eye glasses, and camera lenses. In carbide form, tantalum is the preferred material for mining equipment, drill bits, and high-velocity bits of all kinds. Tin Tin is used as a coating for other metals to prevent corrosion, and chemical reactions. It has many can be found in many alloys, such as bronze, pewter, and solder. In salt form, it is sprayed on glass for frost-free windshields, and panel lighting. Additionally, most window glass is made by floating molten glass on molten Tin. When combined with Niobium, the metal is used in wires for superconducting magnets. Hafnium Hafnium is extremely resistant to corrosion. This attribute and the fact that it has nuclear absorption properties enable Hafnium to be used in fission control rods. It can often be found in combination with number of metals such as iron, titanium, niobium, and tantalum to improve corrosion resistance. Hafnium is also used in incandescent lamps, plasma cutting devices, vacuums, integrated circuits from Intel, practical capacitors, and computer chips. Iron Almost all iron ore is mined to make steel by combining the element with various amounts of tungsten, nickel manganese, chromium and vanadium. These steel alloys make iron strong enough for construction grades. The element is also used in medicine, paints, inks, plastics, cosmetics, fertilizer, and as a powder for magnets, auto parts, and metallurgy products. Beryllium Because of its strength and light weight, Beryllium can be found in hundreds of products as an alloy with copper or aluminum. It is less commonly used in metal form, or in beryllia ceramics. The element finds utility in aerospace applications, x-ray detection devices, skidoos, ATVs, automobile suspensions, circuit boards, electromechanical devices, spring functions, non-sparking explosive handling tools, undersea oil wellheads and gathering systems, electric motors, generators, alternators, fibre optics and lasers, radio speakers, micro-wave ovens, and sub-sea petroleum gathering systems, to name a few. It also has uses in nuclear and fusion power generation as a neutron moderator, and in particle accelerators. Lead Lead is almost exclusively used for batteries in cars, trucks, and other vehicles. It regularly operates as an excellent container for corrosive liquids of all kinds. Additionally, it is found in applications like weights, electronics, paints, insecticides, ammunitions, sound absorption materials, specialized chemicals and protective coatings.