Current Status of the Specialty Metals

Abstract

The specialty metals are characterized by the diversity of their uses and their relative scarcity in nature and commerce as compared with the abundance of the base metals. They are relatively expensive, and most are byproducts of base metal production. Few of them are recycled. Consumption of the specialty metals, except for the precious metals, is confined almost entirely to industrialized countries. Demand for about one-fourth of the group of specialty metals will grow fairly rapidly in the remaining years of the century, while demand for the remainder of the group will grow at modest, or even low, rates. World resources of the specialty metals are adequate to meet forecast demand.