8112 29 000 0 — Beryllium, chromium, hafnium, rhenium, thallium, cadmium, germanium, vanadium, gallium, indium and niobium (columbium), and articles of these metals, including waste and scrap: chromium: other

8112 Beryllium, chromium, germanium, vanadium, gallium, hafnium, indium, niobium (columbium), rhenium, thallium, and articles of these metals, including waste and scrap: – beryllium: 8112 12 – – unwrought; powders 8112 13 – – waste and scrap 8112 19 – – other – chromium: 8112 21 – – unwrought; powders 8112 22 – – waste and scrap 8112 29 – – other – thallium: 8112 51 – – unwrought; powders 8112 52 – – waste and scrap 8112 59 – – other – other: 8112 92 – – unwrought; waste and scrap; powders 8112 99 – – other

(A) Berillium is prepared almost exclusively from beryl, which is the double silicate of beryllium and aluminum, which is considered in heading 2617, except where it exists in the form of a gemstone (e.g., emerald) (Chapter 71). The main commercial methods of metal isolation are: (1) High-temperature electrolysis of a mixture of beryllium oxide fluoride (produced from ore) and barium fluoride or other fluorides. The graphite crucible is used as an anode, and the metal is collected on an iron cathode cooled by water. (2) Restoration of beryllium fluoride with magnesium. Beryllium is a metal of gray-steel color, very light and hard, but extremely fragile. It can be rolled or pulled only in special conditions. Pure beryllium is used in the production of windows in X-ray tubes; as components of nuclear reactors; in the aerospace industry; in military production; as a target for a cyclotron; as electrodes of neon lamps, etc.; as a deoxidizer in metallurgy. It is also used to obtain various alloys, for example, steel (spring-loaded).

steel, etc.); copper-based alloy (for example, an alloy known as beryllium bronze, used to produce springs, watch parts of all kinds, tools, etc.) and nickel-based alloys. These alloys are, however, included in Chapter 72, 74 or 75, respectively, because their beryllium content is very low. This heading includes beryllium in all its forms, for example, raw metal (blocks, granules, cubes, etc.), products (bars, wire, sheets, etc.) and articles. However, goods in the form of specific identifiable articles, such as parts of machinery, tools, etc., are not included in this heading (see, in particular, Chapters 85 and 90). (B) Chromium is isolated mainly from chromite (chromium iron ore), which is converted to sesquioxide and then reduced to metallic chromium. In unpolished form, chromium is a gray-steel metal, and in polished form it is white and shiny. It is very hard and has high anti-corrosion properties, but not very malleable and plastic. Pure chromium is used as a coating for various products made of other metals (electrolytic chromium). The most common application of it (usually in the form of ferrochrome, see Chapter 72) is the production of corrosion-resistant steel. Most metal alloys (e.g. with nickel or cobalt) are, however, not included in this heading in accordance with Note 5 to Section XV. A number of chromium-based alloys are used in the production of jet engines, in protective tubes of electric heating elements, etc. (C) Germany is isolated from zinc production waste, from ore containing germanite (copper-germanium sulfide), and from gas purification dusts. It is a grayish-white metal with specific electron-ion properties that allow the use of germanium in the production of electronic elements (for example, diodes, transistors, lamps). It is also used in alloys of tin, aluminum and gold. (D) Vanadium is usually isolated from ores containing the minerals patronite or carnotite, mainly by reducing the oxide or from the enrichment residues of iron, radium or uranium ores. As a pure metal, its use is limited. Ferrovanadium (group 72) or copper-vanadium ligatures (group 74) are usually obtained; they are used for alloying steel, as well as alloys of copper, aluminum, etc. (E) Gallium is prepared as a by-product from the release of aluminum, zinc, copper and germanium, or from gas purification dusts. It is a soft, grayish-white metal with a melting point of about 30 °C and a high evaporation temperature. It remains a liquid within a wider temperature range and is therefore used as a substitute for mercury in thermometers and in gas discharge arc lamps. It is also used as an alloy in dentistry and for silvering special mirrors. (F) Hafnius is isolated from the same ores as zirconium (zircon, etc.). It has properties very similar to those of zirconium.

Due to its high absorption coefficient of slow neutrons, hafnium is used, in particular, for control rods in nuclear reactors. Indium is isolated from zinc production waste. It is a soft silvery metal with high anti-corrosion properties. Therefore, it is used alone or with zinc, etc. for coatings of various metals. It is also used as an alloying element in alloys of bismuth, lead or tin (surgical alloys), copper or lead (bearing alloys) and gold (jeweler production, dental alloys, etc.). (H) NIOBIU (COLUMBIA) Niobium is obtained from ores containing niobite (columbite) and tant alite, which are processed to obtain potassium fluoride niobium. Next, the metal is isolated by electrolysis or other methods. It is silver-gray and is used in the production of gas absorbers (to remove the last traces of gas in the production of radio lamps). Niobium and its ferroalloy (Group 72) are also used in the manufacture of steels and other alloys. (I) Rhenium is prepared as a by-product of the excretion of molybdenum, copper, etc. Currently, it is little used, but it can be expected to be used in the future in electroplating and as a catalyst. (K) Thallium is isolated from waste treatment of pyrites and other ores. It is a soft, grayish-white metal resembling lead. It is used as an alloying element in lead alloys (to increase its melting point and increase its strength, corrosion resistance, etc.), as well as silver (to prevent tarnishing).