Atomic Number: 49              Period Number:  5             Group Number: 13

Indium & Compounds

A soft, malleable metal similar in properties to gallium, indium (In) appears as a silvery lustrous grey solid at room temperature. Found as a minor component in the ores of other metals, such as zinc, indium sees heavy commercial usage in semiconductors, solders, and transparent coatings. Like pure sodium, elemental indium is highly ductile and soft enough to be cut with a knife. 

Applications of Indium and its Compounds

Despite its relative rarity, indium plays an important role across a number of industries and applications.

• Alloys. The oldest notable use of indium lay in its ability to stabilize non-ferrous metals when added to alloys. More recently, alloys of indium are of value as semiconductors, solders, fusible alloys, electronics, and transparent films. Today, the use as a transparent conductive for display panels has become the largest commercial use of indium and its compounds. 
• Thermal conductors. Indium-based wires are of use as a thermal conductor in certain specialty application, such as cryogenics and high-vacuum applications. It is also used for its thermal properties in alloys with gallium and tin to produce an alternative to mercury for thermometers, and with other elements for fire and heat safety systems.
• Medicine. Used as a radio tracer in nuclear medicine, in dental amalgams, and in the production of mercury-free medical thermometers.
• Batteries. Used as a substitute for mercury in certain battery designs.
• Nuclear engineering. A significant component in the alloys used for control rods in nuclear reactors.

Available from AHP Materials

AHP Materials specializes in high-purity elements and compounds. Our standard catalog includes the following indium-related materials at 99.999% and higher purities:

• Indium(II) Chloride (InCl2)
• Indium(III) Chloride (InCl3)
• Indium (III) Oxide (In2O3)
• Indium Antimonide (InSb)
• Indium(III) Selenide  (In2Se3)
• Indium Fluoride (InF3)

Find out more about our standard offerings, or inquire about custom orders today by contact AHP Materials.

Indium Resources:

Wikipedia - Basics on Indium
Chemicool - Cool way to learn about Indium
WebElements - The basic elements of Indium
Jefferson Lab - Learning about Indium