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  1. #1
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    Japan creates 1st artificial rare metal

    Japan creates 1st artificial rare metal
    01-01-2011

    Japanese researchers have produced a new alloy similar to the rare metal palladium, a breakthrough that could help alleviate the nation's dependence on other countries for this resource.

    The alloy was produced with nanotechnology and has properties similar to those of palladium, a rare metal located between rhodium and silver on the periodic table of the elements.

    Led by Prof Hiroshi Kitagawa of Kyoto University, the research team also produced alternatives to other kinds of rare metals.

    Rhodium and silver molecules usually do not mingle, and remain separated like oil and water even after melting at high temperatures. To mix the elements, Kitagawa focused on a technique that produces ultramicroscopic metal particles.

    His team created a solution containing equal quantities of rhodium and silver, turned the solution into a mist and mixed it little by little with heated alcohol to produce particles of the new alloy. Each particle is 10 nanometres in diameter and atoms of the two metals are equally mixed.

    The new alloy has the same properties as palladium, which is used as a catalyser to cleanse exhaust gas and absorbs large quantities of hydrogen, the researchers said.

    Rhodium, palladium and silver have 45, 46 and 47 electrons, respectively, numbers that determine their chemical characterisations.

    "The orbits of the electrons in the rhodium and silver atoms probably got jumbled up and formed the same orbits as those of palladium," Kitagawa said.

    The new alloy will be difficult to produce commercially, but Kitagawa intends to use the production method to develop other alloys for use as alternative rare metals.

    Kitagawa has begun joint research with automakers and other companies, but said he could not disclose any information because of patents and other reasons.

    Rare metals exist only in small quantities and are economically difficult to mine or extract. Because adding just a small quantity of rare metals can change or improve the properties of other materials, rare metals are called the "vitamins" of industry.

    For example, palladium is essential for making electronic parts, and lithium is used to produce batteries.

    asianewsnet.net

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
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    be a few folks just snapped their chopsticks ......................



    fyi :

    http://www.freewarezoom.com/archives/periodic-table

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mid
    orbits of the electrons in the rhodium and silver atoms probably got jumbled up and formed the same orbits as those of palladium,
    Probably got jumbled up???????????

  4. #4
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    If it's like any other new product, tomorrow they will announce that all further metal production will be moved to their facilities in China.

  5. #5
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    Brilliant! Nanotechnology takes another step forward.

  6. #6
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    And two leaps back.
    Is this nanotechnology a bit like alchemy?

  7. #7
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    You don't really have a clue, do you? Try reading 'Engines of Creation' by Drexler...
    or just try reading...

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife
    You don't really have a clue, do you?
    That's a very reasonable assumption.
    The reason i compared it to alchemy was based on the "probably" bit.
    Using sophisticated techniques, these chaps have made something different to what they started with, but they don't actually know what they've done.

  9. #9
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    Like in:

    In the poison'd entrails throw.—
    Toad, that under cold stone,
    Days and nights has thirty-one;
    Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
    Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!
    Double, double toil and trouble;
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.



    Let's see what comes out?


    "The orbits of the electrons in the rhodium and silver atoms probably got jumbled up and formed the same orbits as those of palladium," Kitagawa said.
    Sounds like it.


    The new alloy will be difficult to produce commercially,
    Nothing new here. Rare metals created in labs tend to end up not being commercially viable, or even close.
    Last edited by FlyFree; 01-01-2011 at 04:10 PM.

  10. #10
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    ^ yup.

    Eureka, out pops the London palladium.

  11. #11
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    ---

    Quote Originally Posted by BobR View Post
    If it's like any other new product, tomorrow they will announce that all further metal production will be moved to their facilities in China.
    The new product is a response to China playing politics with the export of rare metals to Japan.
    .

  12. #12
    A Cockless Wonder
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    So Stark Industry's Arc Reactor could become economically viable?


  13. #13
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife
    You don't really have a clue, do you?
    ...and you do, i suppose?!

    Quote Originally Posted by who View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by BobR View Post
    If it's like any other new product, tomorrow they will announce that all further metal production will be moved to their facilities in China.
    The new product is a response to China playing politics with the export of rare metals to Japan.
    .
    ...or more likely the result of Japan having the best nanotech lab facilities; the most (competitive and) dedicated staff, and dominating the electronics industry.
    I once worked in a lab where one of them flew to Japan for a weekend to do some work in the lab, and then flew back and stayed in a hotel without telling his wife (never mind visiting his house)... OCD seems to be an intrinsic part of the culture.

    Quote Originally Posted by withnallstoke View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Mid
    orbits of the electrons in the rhodium and silver atoms probably got jumbled up and formed the same orbits as those of palladium,
    Probably got jumbled up???????????
    A lot of nanomaterials science is just a matter of chucking some bits of material in a large expensive machine that takes ages to get good at using, and then hoping for the best. Everyone in academia knows that "nano" is Greek for "funding".
    (but yeah, it's an inconvenient truth that all of science is based on the word and concept of "probably"... even the scientific method itself, is circular reasoning... just a more organised way of guessing... you can't run an infinite number of tests, so everything is on the basis of probability - especially the location of electrons (Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle) - mint, innit ;p)

  14. #14
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    Time of the month Nemo? I know what I've read, and that's a whole lot more than Whithnallstoke. This is a step forward, regardless of how it was achieved. You think nanotechnology is just an excuse to squeeze more money in research projects, how very jaded, short sighted and ill informed you are. Nanotechnology is a possibility that may one day become a practical reality, it's uses may enable our species to climb out of the cesspit we inhabit and evolve to a higher status, not only in it's ability to physically improve our lives through medical and environmental innovation, but morally too. In a world where precious metals and gems can be manufactured there will be no need for slave labour to dig our precious requirements out of the hell-holes of West Africa, financial elitism will no longer handicap the progress of our societies.. it is a possible future that should be embraced not derided.

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    Gohills flip-flops wearer
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    Quote Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife
    I know what I've read, and that's a whole lot more than Whithnallstoke.
    You know what you've read for sure, but it's a bit presumptuous stating it's a whole lot more than me; probably right, but presumptuous.
    Anyway, so you're saying that chucking stuff together to see what comes out, and then not knowing why, isn't technologically advanced alchemy?

  16. #16
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    No, I'm saying that the way you say it is a whole lot funnier than the way Nemo says it.

  17. #17
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    Meanwhile, not making a dent in the price of palladium-
    RANsquawk - Real-time Analysis & News Ltd
    Spot palladium reaches its highest since March 2001 at USD 801/oz

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife View Post
    Time of the month Nemo?
    Quote Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife View Post
    You don't really have a clue, do you? Try reading 'Engines of Creation' by Drexler...
    or just try reading...
    Speak for yourself, old bean.

    Quote Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife View Post
    I know what I've read, and that's a whole lot more than Whithnallstoke. This is a step forward, regardless of how it was achieved. You think nanotechnology is just an excuse to squeeze more money in research projects, how very jaded, short sighted and ill informed you are. Nanotechnology is a possibility that may one day become a practical reality, it's uses may enable our species to climb out of the cesspit we inhabit and evolve to a higher status, not only in it's ability to physically improve our lives through medical and environmental innovation, but morally too. In a world where precious metals and gems can be manufactured there will be no need for slave labour to dig our precious requirements out of the hell-holes of West Africa, financial elitism will no longer handicap the progress of our societies.. it is a possible future that should be embraced not derided.
    Hmmm... "ill informed"
    Quote Originally Posted by CaptainNemo
    I once worked in a lab
    I'd recommend moving on from reading sci-fi novels and marketing blather in magazines to reading some textbooks and journals.

    The vast majority (like 90%+) of rare-earth metals come from China (cheap mining labour and low health and safety standards), and this story is less about science and more about economics, as Japan depends heavily on cheap Chinese raw materials and labour... China is flexing it's economic muscle, and so Japan is responding in the best way it can, by pumping out some high-tech propaganda in retaliation for China's protectionism (export embargo).
    We're in an economic cold war; in this little skirmish, China has flexed it's "resources and labour" muscle; and Japan has responded with it's "we're the best at science" muscle. It's no more than a married couple's tiff and bit of door slamming and gurning.

    Nanotech won't deliver a global socialist utopia... Socialism is like a bus where everyone gets to drive, and eventually it crashes; Capitalism is where the person with the most skill and experience is elected to drive, and we all get there on time (even the socialist back-seat drivers).
    "Nano products" are already available (evidence that it feeds further capitalism, as it should... the Darwinian struggle for prosperity is better for humanity than the Marxist struggle for equality); and it will be Chinese slave labour in Africa that is partly a result of nanotech, because human life in the third world is often cheaper than expensive high-tech low-yield manufacturing processes and hairy fannies.
    Last edited by CaptainNemo; 06-01-2011 at 03:09 AM. Reason: . <- ooh look! a nano edit!

  19. #19
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    Socialist... Marxist... Capitalist... blah blah blah... nothing worse than an academic that can't see past the haze of his own bubble.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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    ...you mean a giant gamma ray bubble and a Fermi haze? http://irfu.cea.fr/Meetings/TeVPA/sl...Finkbeiner.pdf

    Nothing better than trying to win an argument online about nothing... Let's kiss and make up

    (anyway, I'm not an academic... I dwell amongst working class mortals ).
    Last edited by CaptainNemo; 06-01-2011 at 06:38 AM. Reason: and Argument

  21. #21
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    No problem.. we'd have to wait 30-40 years to see who's right anyway.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by who View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by BobR View Post
    If it's like any other new product, tomorrow they will announce that all further metal production will be moved to their facilities in China.
    The new product is a response to China playing politics with the export of rare metals to Japan.
    .
    Capitalism 101.

    Sole Supplier = RMB's

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife View Post
    No problem.. we'd have to wait 30-40 years to see who's right anyway.
    Maybe...
    Quote Originally Posted by robuzo View Post
    Meanwhile, not making a dent in the price of palladium-
    RANsquawk - Real-time Analysis & News Ltd
    Spot palladium reaches its highest since March 2001 at USD 801/oz
    Palladium's not even a rare-earth metal anyway, and there's (relatively) loads of it in north America and Russia... the whole article is economic propagandery flim flam.

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    Is it useful, and what can it be used for. ???????

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