The industrial use of gold is becoming an essential part of the world’s need for gold. Although gold has long been sought for its value, its physical properties make it a material of choice in many fields, from electronics to medicine… and even mechanics!
Gold, an electrical conductor
One of the capabilities of gold lies in its high capacity to conduct electric current easily. This feature is of particular interest in electronics. Our smartphones, computers, and the connectors of some of our devices are equipped with it. The golden aspect of HDMI cables is therefore not just there to look pretty. This property makes it possible to transfer a clearer signal with reduced loss.
In our electronic devices, gold has therefore become an essential element in their proper functioning.
In medicine, gold is an ally of choice.
Medicine has understood the interest of the precious metal in two different fields. On the one hand, gold is a perfectly biocompatible element. It is therefore non-toxic to the human body and can be ingested without any health risk, and the risk of reactions with human tissue is greatly reduced.
Covering certain instruments with a layer of gold prevents corrosion and thus reduces the possibility of infection.
It is frequently found in pacemakers, insulin pump batteries, etc.
Another application with gold nanoparticles in certain treatments. Thus, gold offers unprecedented application capabilities in the treatment of cancer, but also in the treatment of rheumatism.
And in the Mc Laren F1!
A very original use for gold is in a car: the Mc Laren F1. This car with its extraordinary sporting capabilities had an engine that produced so much heat that a way had to be found to insulate the compartment as well as possible. The best way was to cover the interior of the engine bay with a thin layer of gold.
