Cobalt, the second word in Chinese, is pronounced as cobalt (G incarnation), a metallic element, with the symbol of Co, silvery white. In medicine, it can be used to make alloys and treat malignant tumors with radioactive cobalt (cobalt -60). The English name "Cobalt" comes from Kobold in German, which means "bad elf". Because cobalt ore is toxic, miners and smelters often get sick at work, and cobalt also pollutes other metals. These bad effects used to be regarded as fairy pranks.

Cobalt ore is mainly arsenide, oxide and sulfide. In addition, radioactive cobalt -60 can be used for cancer treatment. Cobalt 60 is a radioactive isotope of cobalt, which is widely used in machinery, chemical industry, metallurgy and other industries, and can replace radium in the medical treatment of cancer.

Current situation of cobalt consumption

The supply of 20 10 cobalt is 76,363 tons and the consumption is 65,677 tons; 20 1 1 is 82,247 tons, and the consumption is 75 100 tons; 20 12 years is 77 189, consuming 72,000 tons; 20 13 years is 85,904 tons, and the consumption is 75,000 tons. According to experts' prediction, driven by the growth of cobalt chemical production, the global cobalt production is expected to be 90,600 tons in 2065,438+04, and will increase to 65,438,000 tons in 2065,438+08, with an average annual growth rate of about 7%.

According to statistics, in 20 14, the consumption of cobalt in lithium cobaltate industry in China was about 27,000 tons, up 28.6% year-on-year. The consumption of cobalt in ternary materials is about 4650 tons, which is greatly increased by 106.6% year-on-year. In 20 14, the cobalt consumption in cemented carbide field is estimated to be 2876 tons, up by 9. 1% year-on-year. At the same time, the cobalt consumption in the field of high-temperature alloys in 20 14 years is expected to be 1200 tons, a significant increase of 7 1.4% year-on-year. Superalloys are mainly used in aviation and aerospace fields.