The Versatile Uses of Cobalt: From Alloys to Medicine
Join Eric Smith at Stanford Advanced Materials as he explores the many roles of cobalt in our everyday lives with Dr. Laura Davis, a specialist in materials science. In this episode, they discuss how cobalt’s unique properties make it indispensable in a variety of industries, from creating super heat-resistant alloys and high-performance magnetic materials to its use in vibrant pigments for ceramics and glass.
Learn about the critical role of Cobalt-60 in medical treatments and industrial applications, showcasing the broad impact of this extraordinary element. If you’re curious about how cobalt influences the technology and products we rely on daily, this episode is packed with insights.
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Stanford Advanced Materials! I’m your host, Eric Smith. In our last episode, we dove into the role of cobalt in electric vehicle batteries, exploring its advantages, challenges, and alternatives. Today, we’re continuing our exploration of cobalt by looking at how this versatile element is used in our everyday lives and across various industries. To help us unpack this, we have Dr. Laura Davis back with us. Welcome again, Dr. Davis!
Thanks, Eric! It’s great to be here again to discuss more about cobalt.
Let’s start with an overview. We’ve talked about cobalt in EV batteries, but what are some of its other important uses in everyday life?
Cobalt is incredibly versatile. It’s used in everything from batteries and super heat-resistant alloys to magnetic materials and pigments. Despite being a relatively scarce resource, cobalt’s unique properties make it invaluable across a range of applications, from enhancing the performance of tool steels to contributing to the vibrant colors in ceramics and glass.
That’s fascinating! I understand cobalt also plays a crucial role in high-temperature and magnetic applications. Can you tell us more about that?
Absolutely. Cobalt’s high melting point and excellent magnetic properties set it apart. It’s used in high-performance magnetic materials, where it maintains magnetism even under extreme conditions. This makes it ideal for aerospace and machinery manufacturing, where reliability under stress is critical.
And let’s not forget its radioactive isotope, Cobalt-60. How is that used?
Cobalt-60 is a key player in medical treatments, particularly in radiotherapy for cancer patients. It’s also used in industrial applications like radiography and sterilization, thanks to its strong radioactive properties.
It’s clear that cobalt touches so many aspects of our lives, from the technology we use daily to critical medical treatments. As industries continue to evolve, how do you see the future of cobalt shaping up?
Cobalt’s strategic importance will only grow, especially as we continue to innovate in fields like energy storage and advanced manufacturing. However, with increasing focus on sustainability, we’ll also see more efforts to reduce reliance on cobalt where possible, just like we discussed in our previous episode.
Thanks so much, Dr. Davis, for providing such a comprehensive look at cobalt’s role in our world. It’s incredible to see just how pivotal this element is in so many different areas.
My pleasure, Eric. Cobalt truly is an extraordinary material with a broad range of applications.
And to our listeners, thank you for joining us on Stanford Advanced Materials. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our previous discussion on cobalt in EV batteries, and don’t forget to subscribe for more insights into the world of materials science. Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring!
