OSMIUM MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Challenges And Opportunities

Osmium is found in alloys of iridium and in traces of metals such as nickel and copper, and is highly volatile and water soluble in nature. It is a hard and brittle metal that remains lustrous even at high temperatures. The high toxic and volatile properties of osmium restrains its use in pure form for high-wear applications. Although manmade osmium also comes from chromium smelters, hospital incinerators, and the normal operation of cars i.e. from catalytic convertors, it is primarily the industrial extraction and refining of platinum that produces bulk of osmium.

Market Dynamics

• A major factor that drives growth of the global osmium market is its remarkable properties such as stability and hardness. These properties help in manufacturing high quality ballpoint and fountain pens, electrical contacts, jewelry such as rings, record player needles, long life gramophone needles, compass needles, instrument pivots, and other devices prone to frequent wear and tear. Usage of osmium helps to improve the overall quality by making the end product such as nibs, needles hard, stable, and corrosion resistant. Such wide variety of applications of osmium is expected to aid in growth of the global osmium market.
• However, osmium is a rare and expensive element, which is a major factor restraining the global osmium market growth. Pure osmium generally costs between US$ 12,000 and US$ 14,000 per kilogram. Moreover, osmium-187 is a more expensive and useful isotope, which costs between US$ 15,0000 and US$ 25,0000.
• Furthermore, availability of substitue products such as tugsten, which is used in light bulb filaments, could negatovely affect growth of the global osmium market.