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Rhodium is an oxidation-resistant metal alloyed with platinum and iridium. It is used to make a variety of specialized items such as pen nibs, high-temperature thermocouple and resistance wires, electrodes for aircraft spark plugs and electrical contacts, according to Lenntech.
Rhodium can be obtained commercially as a byproduct of copper and nickel refining, but it also occurs naturally uncombined or combined with other noble metals such as platinum. It can be found in river sands in North and South America, and in copper-nickel sulfide ores in Canada.
Alloys of rhodium and platinum are among the most important noble metal systems for a wide range of industrial applications, including coinage, chemical plant, and thermocouples. They are particularly useful in high temperature applications such as furnace windings and phonograph needles, and have a great deal of potential for use in a variety of other areas.
Thermocouples of rhodium and platinum are the most accurate, stable and wide-range thermocouples available. They are suitable for oxidizing, neutral and inert atmospheres, and can be operated at high temperatures (up to 1063 degC) for long periods of time.
The thermoelectric properties of rhodium-platinum alloys depend very greatly upon their thermal stability, which is a function of the chemistry of the system. Consequently, it is of considerable importance that the alloy combination be one in which the e.m.f. generated by the couple limb is as large as possible. This is accomplished by small additions of rhodium to the pure platinum limb.