Cobalt has been in use since at least 2250 BC, when the Persians used it to colour glass a rich blue.
Cobalt has been in use since at least 2250 BC, when the Persians used it to colour glass a rich blue. It has also been detected in ancient Egyptian statuettes and ancient Chinese pottery. The salts have also been used for centuries for the production of brilliant and permanent blue colours in porcelain, glass, pottery, tiles, and enamels. It was not until 1735, however, that Swedish scientist George Brandt first isolated metallic cobalt and it was not until 1780 that it was recognized as an element. Brandt was able to show that cobalt was the source of the blue color in glasses, which previously had been attributed to the bismuth found with cobalt. The word "cobalt" is derived from "Kobold, " the name of a mischievous goblin in German mythology. Kobold was not really evil, but he loved to tease humans. Typically, he was blamed when ores that looked like those of valuable metals could not be smelted. Cobalt is one of the world's essential elements. Of all elements, 27 are essential to man. Cobalt is one. It has many strategic and irreplaceable industrial uses but it is as the central component of Vitamin B12 that it is VITAL. Cobalt has many uses based on several of its unique properties : It has a high melting point (1493?C) and retains its strength to a high temperature - Cutting tools, superalloys, surface coating, high speed steels, cemented carbides, diamond tooling. Cobalt is ferromagnetic (nickel and iron are as well) and retains this property to 1100?C, a higher temperature (Curie Point) than any other material - Alnico magnets, recording tape, soft magnetic materials, samarium cobalt, NdBFe + cobalt. Cobalt in conjunction with silica, etc. , produces intense blue colours - Cobalt Blue in paints, glazes, enamels, etc. Cobalt is multivalent - Catalytic action is enhanced - OXO reaction, Fischer- Tropsch, oil desulphurisation, paint and ink driers, tyre adhesives.
