closed Osmium, sintered plate, 1g in glass vial $50

[JoeLS]

Osmium metal is almost always traded as a fine powder, a state in which it is prone to oxidation and must be protected from air. The osmium being sold here consists of plates of sintered powder that are much more resistant to oxidation. Sintered powder is a low cost alternative to fused beads and ingots, which are more difficult and expensive to manufacture. For ingots of fused osmium see my other listings.

Osmium has an atomic number of 77, and lies below iron and ruthenium in the periodic table, in the platinum group of precious metals. Osmium is generally judged to be the rarest stable element on earth, considerably rarer than gold and platinum. It is one of only four elements with a melting temperature above 3000°C-- higher than the boiling temperature of iron and other contaminating elements.  Osmium is the densest of all naturally occurring elements, with a specific gravity of 22.59, twice that of lead. Supply of the metal is very limited. Worldwide annual production is only about 500 kg.

Osmium currently is the least utilized of the platinum group metals, its applications being limited to serving as a catalyst in petroleum refining, recovering occult fingerprints in forensics, the production of super hard and chemically resistant alloys, and as a stain in electron microscopy. As new uses are discovered, the price of the metal no doubt will rise.

Free shipping in the continental US only. Buyer is responsible for all taxes and tariffs, and for shipping outside the continental US.

[ChrisSilver]

Moved to non PM section and converted text to standard forum format. 

[TheSilverForum]

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