The platinum group metals (pgms) are characterised by their high melting points & resistance to corrosion. The glass industry most commonly uses platinum, platinum-rhodium alloys & recently, iridium. These protect a variety of components & ceramic substrates used in glass manufacture from erosion by molten glass, including thermocouples, furnace & forehearth parts. This protection takes the form of a fabricated part or a coating applied to a substrate. Glass manufacturers use these pgm products to get financial benefits, such as increased output, reduced downtime, extended equipment life, shape retention of ceramic parts & fewer defects in the end product. Another important advantage is that pgms are recyclable: precious metals can be recycled, melted & reused indefinitely. a choice of pgm-based technologies is available to the industry. See the above link for more.
