The
consumption of the chief platinum metals in the United States in 1922,
as reported by refiners, was 181,498 ounces, an increase of 3 per cent
from 1921. The electrical industry used less palladium than in 1921 but
more platinum and iridium. The dental industry was apparently
overstocked from the previous year and reduced its consumption of
platinum and palladium. In the jewelry industry there was an increased
consumption of all platinum metals, but the greatest increase was in
palladium, presumably for the manufacture of the so-called "white gold"
alloys.
Osmium
is being used in increasing amounts for the preparation of an alloy
that is substituted for native osmiridium for pointing gold pens, and
it is rumored that some osmium is being used as a hardener for platinum
in place of the more expensive iridium.
It
has been found impossible to reconcile the consumption of 181,498
ounces of the chief platinum metals, as given by refiners, with the
apparent consumption of 135,933 ounces, as calculated in the second
table below or by any variants of that method. It is believed that
there is considerable duplication in the figures for consumption given
by refiners, but so far no means have been found to avoid this source
of error, and the figures supplied by refiners give the only measure of
consumption by industries. In the second method of calculation there is
a source of error in the assumption of the quantity of platinum
imported in the refined state. Nevertheless, this method is believed to
give a fair measure of the quantity of platinum metals consumed. It
seems probable that the actual consumption was about 150,000 ounces.
Chief platinum metals consumed in the United States as reported by refiners, 1921-22, by industries, in troy ounces.
