Electrodes & other electronics

Platinum, palladium, rhodium and iridium are used to coat electrodes; the tiny components in all electronic products which help establish electrical contact between non-metallic parts of a circuit and control the flow of electricity. Smaller amounts of palladium are used in conductive tracks in hybrid integrated circuits (HIC) and for plating connectors and lead frames.

Palladium is widely used in electronics applications on account of its electrical conductivity and its durability. Palladium-containing components are issued in virtually every type of electronic device.

Electronic equipment used by the military has platinum wiring and coating on the circuits which are crucial for functionality.

Although each component contains only a fraction of a gram of metal, the sheer volume of units produced results in significant consumption of palladium.