Heraeus Precious Metals and Sibanye-Stillwater have announced a new joint research and development initiative aimed at transforming the production of glass fibre bushings through innovative material engineering. The collaboration focuses on developing platinum-palladium (PtPd) alloys enhanced with Heraeus’ proprietary dispersion hardening (DPH) technology, with the goal of reducing costs while maintaining high performance.

Glass fibre bushings play a vital role in the manufacturing process, forming continuous filaments used across industries such as construction, automotive, wind energy, and electronics. Traditionally manufactured from platinum due to its exceptional resistance to high temperatures, these components are effective but costly. The new initiative seeks to partially substitute platinum with palladium, offering a more economical solution while also supporting increased demand for palladium.

A central challenge in the project lies in identifying the optimal alloy composition. While higher palladium content can significantly reduce raw material costs, it may also affect the mechanical strength and operational lifespan of the bushings under extreme temperatures. To overcome this, Heraeus will apply and further refine its oxide dispersion strengthening-based DPH technology to enhance durability and resistance.

The two-year project will encompass alloy development, prototyping, and customer validation phases. The partners aim to deliver market-ready solutions tailored specifically to applications such as E-glass fibres, where cost efficiency remains a critical factor.

For Sibanye-Stillwater, the partnership aligns with its broader strategy to stimulate new demand streams for palladium and create a more balanced utilization of platinum group metals. By enabling substitution in industrial applications, the initiative has the potential to unlock additional value for palladium while responding to shifting market dynamics.