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Technology metals are essential raw materials that have become indispensable in today’s world of high technology and innovation. They play a central role in key industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, medical technology and the development of environmentally friendly energy technologies. Without these metals, products such as smartphones, LEDs, solar modules, high-performance alloys and turbine blades would not be feasible.
As tangible asset investments, technology metals are gaining increasing relevance. Their limited availability, combined with rapidly growing demand driven by technological progress, makes them a strategic asset class with long-term value potential. Since many of these metals are mined in only a few countries and require complex extraction and refining processes, they are subject to natural supply constraints, further strengthening their exclusivity.
By investing in technology metals such as gallium, germanium, indium, rhenium and hafnium, investors can gain exposure to raw materials with significant economic and technological relevance. At the same time, they position themselves in a growth market closely linked to the global megatrends of energy transition, digitalisation and automation.
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Mellting Point: |
29,8°C |
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Density: |
5,91 g/cm3 |
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Colour: |
Silvery-white |
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Boiling Point: |
2400°C |
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Annual Global Production: |
100 tonnes |
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Crust Abundance: |
14 ppm |
Gallium is a soft, silvery metal discovered in 1875 by the French chemist Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran. It is known for its unusually low melting point of approximately 29.76 °C, which means it can become liquid at around body temperature.
Gallium plays a key role in several high-technology sectors:
Semiconductor Industry:
Gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN) are important semiconductor materials used in LEDs, laser diodes and high-frequency electronic components.
Solar Energy:
Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) is used in thin-film solar cells and supports efficient conversion of sunlight into electrical energy.
Medical Diagnostics:
Gallium isotopes are used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic imaging procedures.
Gallium does not occur in pure form in nature. It is mainly obtained as a by-product of aluminium and zinc production. Annual global production is estimated at around 300 tonnes. Rising demand from the electronics and solar industries continues to influence both market pricing and availability.
Gallium offers several points of interest for investors:
Long-Term Value Potential:
Its growing relevance in future-oriented technologies may support long-term demand for gallium.
Portfolio Diversification:
As a technology metal, gallium can contribute to broader diversification within a tangible asset portfolio.
Strategic Importance:
The dependence of modern technologies on gallium underlines its relevance as a strategic raw material.
Overall, gallium represents an interesting addition for investors seeking exposure to the development and application of advanced technologies.
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Mellting Point: |
938,3 °C |
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Density: |
5,323 g/cm3 |
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Colour: |
Grey-white |
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Boiling Point: |
2830 °C |
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Annual Global Production: |
140 tonnes |
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Crust Abundance: |
5,6 ppm |
Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It was discovered in 1886 by the German chemist Clemens Winkler. While analysing the mineral argyrodite, he isolated this silvery-white, brittle metal and named it after his home country, Germany.
Germanium plays an important role in various high-technology sectors:
Semiconductor Technology:
Due to its excellent electrical properties, germanium is used in transistors and diodes, particularly in high-frequency applications.
Optics and Infrared Technology:
Germanium dioxide is used in optical fibres and infrared optics. As germanium is transparent to infrared radiation, it is applied in night vision devices, thermal imaging cameras and other advanced optical systems.
Solar Energy:
In certain types of solar cells, particularly in aerospace applications, germanium serves as a substrate material for the efficient conversion of sunlight into electrical energy.
Germanium rarely occurs in pure form and is mainly obtained as a by-product during the processing of zinc ores. Annual global production is estimated at around 140 tonnes. China dominates the market as the largest producer, followed by Russia and Canada. Rising demand from the electronics and solar industries continues to influence both market pricing and availability.
Germanium offers several points of interest for investors:
Long-Term Value Potential:
Its increasing relevance in future-oriented technologies may support long-term demand for germanium.
Portfolio Diversification:
As a technology metal, germanium can contribute to broader diversification within a tangible asset portfolio.
Strategic Importance:
The dependence of modern technologies on germanium underlines its relevance as a strategic raw material.
Overall, germanium represents an interesting addition for investors seeking exposure to the development and application of advanced technologies.
Indium
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Mellting Point: |
156,6°C |
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Density: |
7,31 g/cm3 |
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Colour: |
Silver-white |
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Boiling Point: |
2080°C |
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Annual Global Production: |
600 tonnes |
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Crust Abundance: |
0,1 ppm |
Indium is a rare, silvery-white and very soft heavy metal. It was discovered in 1863 by the German chemists Ferdinand Reich and Theodor Richter at the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology. Its name is derived from the characteristic indigo-blue spectral line observed during its discovery.
Indium plays an important role in several high-technology sectors:
Flat Screens and Touchscreens:
Indium is primarily processed into indium tin oxide (ITO), which is used as a transparent conductive material in flat screens, touchscreens and other display technologies.
Semiconductor Industry:
Indium is used in various compounds and alloys for the production of touchscreens, displays, batteries and LCD screens.
Special Alloys:
Indium can be used to produce alloys such as Galinstan, which remain liquid at room temperature and can replace mercury in selected applications, such as thermometers.
Indium rarely occurs in pure form and is mainly obtained as a by-product during the processing of zinc ores. Theoretical reserves are estimated at around 16,000 tonnes, of which approximately 11,000 tonnes are considered economically recoverable. Major deposits are located in Canada, China and Peru.
Indium offers several points of interest for investors:
Long-Term Value Potential:
Its increasing relevance in future-oriented technologies may support long-term demand for indium.
Portfolio Diversification:
As a technology metal, indium can contribute to broader diversification within a tangible asset portfolio.
Strategic Importance:
The dependence of modern technologies on indium underlines its relevance as a strategic raw material.
Overall, indium represents an interesting addition for investors seeking exposure to the development and application of advanced technologies.
Rhenium
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Mellting Point: |
1555°C |
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Density: |
11,99 g/cm3 |
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Colour: |
Silver-white |
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Boiling Point: |
2960°C |
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Annual Global Production: |
200 tonnes |
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Crust Abundance: |
0,011 ppm |
Rhenium is an extremely rare, silvery-white heavy metal discovered in 1925 by the German chemists Walter Noddack, Ida Tacke and Otto Berg. It is one of the last stable elements to have been discovered and is known for its exceptionally high melting point of 3,180 °C, the second-highest among all metals after tungsten.
Rhenium is used in several high-technology sectors:
Superalloys:
Rhenium is used in nickel-based superalloys for aircraft engines and gas turbines, where it helps improve heat resistance and mechanical strength under extreme operating conditions.
Catalysts:
In the chemical industry, rhenium is used as a catalyst in the production of high-octane gasoline and other petrochemical products.
Thermocouples:
Due to its high melting point and stability, rhenium is used in thermocouples for high-temperature measurement applications.
With an abundance of only around 0.7 parts per billion in the continental Earth’s crust, rhenium is one of the rarest metals. It does not occur naturally in elemental form, but is found bound within certain ores, particularly molybdenum ores such as molybdenite (MoS₂).
Rhenium offers several points of interest for investors:
Long-Term Value Potential:
Rising demand from the aerospace industry and energy generation sector may support the long-term relevance of rhenium.
Portfolio Diversification:
As a rare technology metal, rhenium can contribute to broader diversification within a tangible asset portfolio.
Strategic Importance:
The dependence of advanced technologies on rhenium underlines its relevance as a strategic raw material.
Overall, rhenium represents an interesting addition for investors seeking exposure to the development and application of advanced technologies.
Hafnium
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Mellting Point: |
2227°C |
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Density: |
13,31 g/cm3 |
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Density: |
Silver |
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Boiling Point: |
4602°C |
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Annual Global Production: |
33 tonnes |
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Crust Abundance: |
4,2 ppm |
Hafnium is a silver-grey transition metal with the chemical symbol Hf and atomic number 72. It was discovered in 1923 by the scientists Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy in Copenhagen. Named after “Hafnia”, the Latin name for Copenhagen, hafnium is known for its high density, corrosion resistance and remarkable ability to absorb neutrons.
Hafnium is used in several high-technology sectors:
Nuclear Technology:
Due to its strong neutron absorption capability, hafnium is used in control rods for nuclear reactors, where it helps regulate the chain reaction.
Aerospace:
In heat-resistant alloys, hafnium improves the strength and temperature resistance of turbine blades and other components designed to withstand extreme operating conditions.
Electronics:
Hafnium oxide is used as a high-k dielectric material in modern semiconductor devices, helping to improve the performance and efficiency of microprocessors.
Hafnium occurs only rarely in the Earth’s crust and is found almost exclusively in association with zirconium, particularly in minerals such as zircon (ZrSiO₄). The separation of hafnium from zirconium is technically demanding and costly. Major deposits are located in Australia, South Africa and Brazil. Due to its limited availability and rising demand from high-technology industries, hafnium is regarded as a strategically important raw material.
Hafnium offers several points of interest for investors:
Long-Term Value Potential:
Its increasing relevance in key technologies may support the future value potential of hafnium.
Portfolio Diversification:
As a rare technology metal, hafnium can contribute to broader diversification within a tangible asset portfolio.
Strategic Importance:
The dependence of modern technologies on hafnium underlines its relevance as a long-term strategic investment.
Overall, hafnium represents a promising option for investors seeking exposure to the development and application of advanced technologies.
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