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Indium, like gallium and thallium, is a highly volatile chalcophile element in subgroup IIIA of the periodic table. It is a malleable, silvery-white metal found primarily in ores, in order of descending importance, of zinc, copper, and tin. It has many uses, but the principal one, which accounts for about 65 percent of the indium consumed in industry, is as thin films of indium-tin oxide (ITO) for liquid crystal displays. Indium is also used in semiconductors, in the form of indium phosphide (InP). The value of commercial grade indium consumed in the United States in 2001 is estimated to have been greater than $8.5 million based on domestic consumption of 58 metric tons (t). Indium is principally a byproduct of the electrolytic refining of zinc, although a small share is a byproduct of tin refining. Primary refined indium is produced in several countries which include, in descending order of quantity produced, China, France, Japan, Canada, Belgium, Russia, and Peru (Brown, 2002a). The United States produces only secondary material, and the quantity, which is the proprietary data of the only two producers, is not published. The world reserve base for indium is estimated to be about 5,700 t, which is far in excess of probable consumption over the next several decades; the United States has about 11 percent of this base. The sustainable production and consumption of indium appears to be no impediment in future years.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
