8112.92.10.00 - Gallium

This HTS subheading, 8112.92.10.00, specifically classifies unwrought gallium, as well as waste and scrap and powders of gallium. Gallium is a soft, silvery metal at room temperature, notable for its low melting point. Its primary uses are in semiconductors, particularly in gallium arsenide (GaAs) for high-speed electronics and LEDs, as well as in alloys and medical imaging.

This category is distinguished from its siblings by the exclusive focus on gallium. For instance, 8112.92.30.00 covers indium, a different metal with distinct properties and applications, typically in solder and transparent conductive films. Similarly, 8112.92.40.00 pertains to niobium (columbium), a refractory metal used in superalloys and superconducting magnets. The sibling categories for germanium and vanadium also classify these specific metals and their unwrought forms, waste, scrap, or powders, each with unique industrial applications.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subdivisions under this specific code. Therefore, classification at this level hinges on accurately identifying the material as gallium and its form as unwrought, waste, scrap, or powder. When encountering materials that may be alloys or finished articles, it is crucial to consult other HTS headings that are more specific to those descriptions, as this heading is strictly for the base metal in its primary or recovered forms.