Essential for Modern Life

‍Metals are crucial in everyday life. Their elements have shaped society as we know it today and are the foundation for tomorrow’s innovations.

Here are some ways that metals are essential and indispensable in the modern world.

Conductivity

Metals such as copper and aluminum help create efficient electrical systems because they are excellent conductors of electricity and heat. These properties are indispensable in:

• Electrical wiring
• Power generation, transmission and distribution

Transportation

‍The automotive, aerospace, and maritime industries depend heavily on metals.

• Steel, aluminum, and titanium are commonly used in manufacturing vehicles such as electric automobiles, airplanes, ships, and trains. These metals have exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, which allows for efficient and reliable transportation.
• Zinc keeps cars, boats, and highway guardrails from rusting.

Medicine and Healthcare

‍Certain metals have beneficial biomedical applications, such as:

• Stainless steel in surgical instruments
• Titanium in joint implants
• Silver as an antimicrobial agent in wound dressings and coatings 
• Copper being used to reduce the transfer of germs and viruses on hospital surfaces such as door handles and drawer knobs

Communication Technology

‍Metals are necessary to build the circuit boards, microprocessors, and memory chips that enable modern communication and computing technology.

For example, copper, silver, and gold are used in the creation of electronic devices such as:

• Smartphones
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Computers

Renewable Energy

‍Metals are foundational components of renewable energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries.   

• Photovoltaic cells in solar panels use materials like silver and zinc
• Batteries often contain lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, and other metals

Structural Strength

‍Metals that possess high strength and durability are ideal for construction purposes. Buildings, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure projects rely on metals such as iron to provide stability and safety.

Machinery and Tools

‍Many tools and machinery are made from metals due to their strength and ability to withstand heavy usage. From simple hand tools to complex industrial machinery, metals form the backbone of the manufacturing sector.

Packaging

‍Metals such as aluminum and tin are widely used for packaging food and beverages. Their resistance to corrosion and ability to seal tightly helps preserve the quality of products.