Indium Information
MATERIAL OVERVIEW
Characteristics: Ductile, shiny, silver-white metal, softer than lead. Soluble in acids. Insoluble in alkalies. Corrosion-resistant at room temperatures, but oxidizes readily at higher temperatures. Nontoxic.
Indium (In) was discovered in 1863, by Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymus Theodor Richter while spectro-graphically analyzing a zinc ore sample where they saw the presence of a blue spectral line rather than the anticipated green thallium line. Realizing they had discovered a new element they named the new metal Indium after the blue (Indigo) spectral line.
Indium is a post transition element with the atomic number 49 and displays intermediate chemical properties between gallium and thallium. This rare material is a silvery element with a bright sheen, soft and malleable with a relatively low melting temperature below 160 C, making it especially useful in the manufacture of alloys, solders and in fusing material. Today most of the world's indium is produced in Canada and China.
During World War II, the first significant use of indium was in the manufacture of bearings as a coating for use in aircraft engines. After the war, production shifted as new uses were found in alloy manufacture, in special use solders and in electronics applications. During the 50s, small amount’s were used for the emitters and collectors of PNP alloy junction transistors. Later in the 1980s, progress in Indium phosphide semiconductors and Indium tin oxide thin film development for liquid crystal displays redirected use of Indium. By the early 90s, thin-film application became its predominant end-use and the bulk of commercially pure Indium is consumed in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). LCDs are used in many devices like; flat panel monitors, televisions, cell phones and laptop computers. A smaller percentage of commercial pure indium is used in the manufacture of electrical components. Because of indium's ability to conduct electricity and its' low melting temperature it is a component in many low temperature solder alloys.
At ESPI Metals we produces a variety of finished indium products. We can supply ingots in sizes and weights based upon our customer's specifications. We produce indium shot from ingot. We roll sheet and foil and extrude rod and wire. We also manufacture preforms to our customer's requirements.
Starting from refined indium ingot we roll indium to a variety of widths and thicknesses. Rolled material starts at 0.001"/0.0254mm and can be as thick as 1" or more if required. The maximum width of rolled material is six to twelve inches depending on thickness. Wider material is possible, however call or email your requirement.
Extruded wire and rod starts at 0.010/0.25mm. Wire and rod diameters are available in 0.001"/0.025mm diameter increments.
We also produce a variety of indium alloys.
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For more technical and historical information see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indium For a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) see: www.espimetals.com/index.php/msds/146-Indium
GENERAL PROPERTIES
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Symbol: |
In |
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Atomic Number: |
49 |
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Atomic Weight: |
114.82 |
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Density: |
7.31 gm/cc |
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Melting Point: |
156.61 oC |
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Boiling Point: |
2080 oC |
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Thermal Conductivity: |
0.818 W/cm/K @ 298.2 K |
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Electrical Resistivity: |
8.37 microhm-cm @ 20 oC |
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Electronegativity: |
1.7 Paulings |
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Specific Heat: |
0.056 Cal/g/K @ 25 oC |
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Heat of Vaporization: |
53.7 K-Cal/gm atom at 2080 oC |
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Heat of Fusion: |
0.781 Cal/gm mole
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INDIUM VIDEO CLIPS
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Click the camera icon to view:
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TYPICAL ANALYSES
Impurities in ppm
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Material / Purity: |
5N |
5N5 |
6N |
| Al | - | <0.1 | - |
| Cd | 0.3 | - | - |
| Ca | - | 1 | - |
| Cu | 0.8 | <0.2 | <0.5 |
| Ni | 4.2 | 1 | - |
| Zn | <0.5 | - | - |
| Sb | 0.2 | - | - |
| Pb | 1 | - | <0.5 |
| Ag | - | 1.1 | - |
| Ti | - | 0.4 | <0.5 |
| Hg | - | - | 0.1 |
| Tl | 1.4 | - | - |
| Fe | <0.5 | - | - |
| Sn | 0.2 | - | - |
INDIUM WIRE
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Material |
Purity |
| Indium Wire .010" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .015" |
3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .020" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .025" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .030" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .040" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .060" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .080" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Wire .090" | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Wire is spooled to order and sold by the foot or meter. Additional diameters are available upon request. Call or e-mail for a quotation.
INDIUM ROD
|
Material |
Purity |
| Indium Rod .0625” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Rod .125” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Indium Rod .250”  |
3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Rod .500” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Rod .625” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Rod .750” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Rod 1” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Rod is cut to order and sold by the inch or foot. Additional diameters are available upon request. Call or e-mail for a quotation.
INDIUM FOIL
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Material |
Purity |
| Indium Foil .001” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Foil .002” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Foil .003” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Foil .004” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Indium Foil .005”   |
3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Foil .006” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Indium Foil .007”   |
3N, 4N, 5N |
Indium Foil .008”   |
3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Foil .009” | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Foil is cut to order and sold by the square inch or square foot. Additional thicknesses are available upon request. Call or e-mail for a quotation.
INDIUM SHEET
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Material |
Purity |
| Indium Sheet .010" | |
Indium Sheet .015"   |
3N,4N, 5N |
Indium Sheet .020"   |
3N, 4N, 5N |
Indium Sheet .050"   |
3N, 4N, 5N |
Sheet is cut to order and sold by the square inch or square foot. Additional thicknesses are available upon request. Call or e-mail for a quotation.
INDIUM SPUTTERING TARGETS
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Material |
Purity |
| Indium Sputtering Target 2"D X .125"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 2"D X .250"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 3"D X .125"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 3"D X .250"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 4"D X .125"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 4"D X .250"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 5"D X .125"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 5"D X .250"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 6"D X .125"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Sputtering Target 6"D X .250"T | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Additional sizes and sputtering targets produced from compounds are available upon request.
INDIUM POWDER, SHOT, PELLETS, & INGOT
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Material |
Purity |
Indium Shot 3-6mm  |
3N, 4N, 5N, 6N |
| Indium Pellets .250"D X .125"L | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Pellets .250"D X .250"L | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Ingot | 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N |
| Indium Powder-100 Mesh | 3N, 4N, 5N |
| Indium Powder-325 Mesh | 3N, 4N, 5N |
Powder, shot, pellets, and ingots are packaged to order and sold by the gram.
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
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Material |
Purity |
| Indium Antimonide InSb 1/8" Pieces by Down | 5N |
| Indium Arsenide InAs 1/8" Pieces by Down | 5N |
| Indium Chloride | 5N |
| Indium Oxide In2O3 1/2"-1/8" Pieces | 5N |
| Indium Oxide In2O3 -325 Mesh | 5N |
| Indium Phosphide InP 1/4" Pieces by Down | 5N |
| Indium Telluride In2Te3 1/8" Pieces by Down | 5N |
Compounds are packaged to order and sold by the gram or kilogram.
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ALLOYS 
