13 Manganese Uses in Different Industries(Need To Know Facts)

Manganese is a hard, brittle, silvery metal with atomic number 25 and an atomic mass of 54.938 u. Let us learn about the uses of manganese in different industries in this article.

Manganese is used majorly in the industries listed below:

  • Alloys
  • Coin making and Steel
  • Chemistry
  • Automotive
  • Cells and batteries

Alloys

  • Manganese is used in metallurgy to make alloys using sulfur fixing and alloying properties.
  • Manganese and aluminium alloys, with 1.5% of manganese, are resistant to corrosion and these alloys are used to make beverage cans.
  • Manganese-copper alloys are available in shunt resistors to measure very large amounts of current.

Lighting and pigments

  • Manganese is found in the red-emitting phosphor to give a fluorescence effect but is not used commercially due to high manufacturing costs and lower efficiency.
  • Manganese compounds provide colours to ceramics and glass, especially a brown colour to the ceramics.
  • K2SiF6:Mn4+ is found commercially in white light LEDs.

Coin making and Steel

  • Mn is widely used in the making of low-cost stainless steel.
  • A small amount of manganese is added while making steel to improve its workability at higher temperatures.
  • Manganese was used several times in coin-making in different proportions during different periods.

Chemistry

  • Manganese (IV) oxide is applied in organic chemistry to oxidise benzyl compounds and oxidises the greenish tinge on the windows due to iron contamination.
  • MnO2 works for the production of oxygen and chlorine and is also helpful in drying paints.
  • Manganese sulphide can be employed as a fungicide and MnO2 is useful in fertilisers and ceramics and can be used as a rubber additive.

Automotive

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl increases the octane rating of engine fuels and decreases engine knocking.

Cells and batteries

Manganese (IV) oxide is used in dry-cell batteries. It also functions in newer alkaline batteries, which perform the same action as dry cells.

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Industrial uses of Manganese

Conclusion:

This article concludes that manganese is important in metallurgical processes, especially in making steel and aluminium alloys. Oxides of manganese are strong oxidising agents that provide colours to ceramics and glasses and can be used to change the colours present.