ElectronicsHow iridium crucibles are made

Essential to advanced digital devices Extreme-Heat Crucibles

Iridium crucibles powering next-generation technology

Built to retain their strength even under extreme heat, Furuya Metal’s iridium crucibles enable the ultra-high-temperature manufacturing processes essential to semiconductors and electronic components. Rarely seen, yet indispensable, they continue to support the advanced industries shaping the future.

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Furuya Metal Iridium crucibles High-temperature crucibles designed for the melting and synthesis of materials with extremely high melting points.

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Used for growing scintillator crystals, which serve as key materials in medical imaging equipment.
Used for the growth of gallium oxide single crystals, which are attracting attention as substrate materials for next-generation semiconductor devices.

01

Raw Materials

Every iridium crucible begins with this powder

The starting point for an iridium crucible is a powder known as iridium sponge, sourced from South Africa. Although it appears to be an ordinary powder, it possesses the unique properties of one of the world's most advanced precious metals. Furuya Metal maintains a stable supply network spanning all three major mining groups in South Africa, ensuring a reliable source of this critical raw material.

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Deep beneath South Africa lies one of the world's rarest metals

Most of the world’s iridium and ruthenium reserves are found in South Africa. Through decades of trusted partnerships with leading mining companies, Furuya Metal has established a stable supply network and remains one of the few companies able to procure these precious metal resources directly from the source.

02

Plasma Melting

Purifying iridium with plasma hotter than 5,000°C

Iridium has a melting point of more than 2,400°C. In a plasma melting furnace, impurities are removed using plasma temperatures exceeding 5,000°C while the metal is formed into ingots. Furuya Metal employs a double-melting process to ensure high quality.

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Why double melting matters

The double-melting process is a two-stage method in which metal is melted and refined twice to obtain high-purity materials.

In the first melting stage, impurities and gases are removed. The metal is then melted a second time to further improve purity and achieve a more uniform composition.

Furuya Metal applies this process in the production of iridium and ruthenium products, including crucibles.

03

Forging

Where skilled craftsmanship shapes every crucible

During forging, experienced technicians observe the color of the iridium and determine factors such as the number of hammer strikes required. This subtle judgment, refined through years of experience, is where their craftsmanship truly comes into play.

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Judging temperature by the color of iridium

Forging plays an important role in the production of iridium crucibles. In this process, heated iridium is shaped by applying force with skilled techniques. Forging increases the density of the metal and is essential for achieving strength and durability.

Because iridium is an extremely hard and brittle material, forging it requires both specialized equipment and the experience of technicians who understand its unique characteristics. By observing the color of the heated iridium, they are able to judge its temperature and determine the appropriate processing conditions.

04

Rolling

Transforming brittle iridium into thin sheets

Iridium is an extremely brittle metal and is difficult to process. During the rolling process, automated equipment and skilled operators work together to reduce the material to the required thickness.

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Battling the brittleness of iridium

Rolling is a metalworking process in which a metal is passed between rollers and compressed to reduce its thickness. At Furuya Metal, dedicated rolling mills are used to process metals such as iridium, which is extremely hard and brittle.

Thickness can be controlled at the micron level during rolling, allowing products such as crucibles, sheets, and thin-film materials to be manufactured to precise specifications.

05

Precision Cutting

Precision shaping through advanced machining

Using processes such as wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) and laser machining, the material is cut into the basic shape of a crucible. This is a highly demanding process that requires meticulous attention at every stage.

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How wire EDM enables precision machining

Wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a manufacturing process that uses a thin wire electrode and electrical discharges to cut metal. Because the wire does not come into direct contact with the workpiece, hard materials and complex shapes can be machined with high precision.

Wire EDM is widely used in the production of precision components and molds. At Furuya Metal, it is used for the precision machining of high-purity precious metals.

06

Fabrication

The final step—shaping the crucible

In the final fabrication process, hard and brittle iridium is bent, deep-drawn, and welded. Drawing on years of experience and specialized processing techniques, the material is gradually transformed into the finished shape of an iridium crucible.

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The expertise behind precision welding

At room temperature, iridium is remarkably hard yet highly brittle. Because of these opposing characteristics, it cannot be processed without heating. The ability to work with this combination of hardness and brittleness is one of the key strengths of Furuya Metal.

Welding requires extremely fine temperature control, with the material heated to just below its melting point. Even a slight increase in temperature can cause the workpiece to melt through, leaving defects.

Furuya Metal’s welding technicians monitor factors such as the color of the sparks, the movement of the molten pool, and the sounds generated during welding. Using these observations, they determine the appropriate temperature for the process.

When welding is successful, it produces a smooth, mirror-like weld seam. Iridium processing is supported by the skills developed through years of experience.

07

Finished Product

The finished iridium crucible

Designed for use in the research and production of semiconductors and high-purity single crystals, iridium crucibles can withstand extremely high temperatures. Manufactured using technologies developed in Japan, these crucibles support advanced applications around the world.

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Recognized twice as a Global Niche Top 100 Company by METI

Furuya Metal was selected twice for Japan’s Global Niche Top 100 Companies program, established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), in 2014 and 2020.

The program recognizes companies that possess distinctive products and technologies with a strong share in global markets. Furuya Metal has earned international recognition for its high-purity refining and processing technologies for rare precious metals such as iridium and ruthenium, and for its contribution to industries at the forefront of technological innovation.