Uses

Cobalt is a very important component in many everyday things. With an alloy, cobalt can be used in gas engines and jet turbines. When combined with certain materials, it can become a strongly magnetic material called Alnico. Alnico can be used to make compasses, microphones, and hearing aids. Speaking of aids, Cobalt can be used with several medical needs. Cobalt is used in orthopedic implants, alongside titanium and stainless steel. Also, a radioactive version of the element, Cobalt-60, is used to treat certain types of cancer (radioactive therapy). Underneath the health category, Cobalt is a vital part of Vitamin-B12. But cobalt is not only used for medical purposes. Cobalt is also used for artwork. It can be used to help color certain blues. A long time ago, it was used for blue stained glass. Not only is cobalt used for art, but it is used in modern day devices. It used to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries, which are found in mobile devices. So the device you are reading this article on, most likely contains cobalt. Cobalt is also used in electro-plating which is some sort of electronic protection. And finally, cobalt is used with a stellite alloy to create cutting tools. This is why cobalt production is so high.