Story perspectives

Thermal Grizzly Raises Liquid Metal Prices Amid Gallium Surge

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 6:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

China Suspends Export Ban

der8auer's firm now pays €2,500–3,000 per kilogram of gallium, up from €300 five years earlier.
Gallium prices have more than doubled since the start of 2025.
Thermal Grizzly raises prices for its liquid metal TIM products because of the steep gallium cost increase.
China, supplying 99% of global gallium, suspends its export ban to the United States until Nov. 27, 2026.

Summary

der8auer Demonstrates TIM

der8auer demonstrated that a two-year-old liquid metal TIM does not dry out.
He showed gallium bonds with copper to form CuGa2, conducting heat at about one-quarter copper’s rate.
On nickel-plated surfaces gallium creates NiGa5, yielding a layer ten times thinner than on copper.
der8auer recommended Thermal Grizzly TG Metal Polish & Restore, $22.11 for 30 g, which uses a surfactant to lower gallium’s surface tension.

History

Historical Context

In 2005 a U.S. export-control amendment curbed gallium shipments as telecom demand drove prices to about $500 kg?¹, while China supplied roughly 95 % of global output. The spike mirrored the broader 2000s commodities boom, where rapid Chinese urbanisation lifted demand for many rare metals. Today the episode fuels calls for diversified sources and recycling.

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China Suspends Export Ban

der8auer's firm now pays €2,500–3,000 per kilogram of gallium, up from €300 five years earlier.
Gallium prices have more than doubled since the start of 2025.
Thermal Grizzly raises prices for its liquid metal TIM products because of the steep gallium cost increase.
China, supplying 99% of global gallium, suspends its export ban to the United States until Nov. 27, 2026.

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