Why Are Three-Way Catalytic Converters Valuable?

[McBella]

Because the catalysts on the ceramic substrate surface of a three-way catalytic converter are palladium and rhodium, which are rare elements with high prices. Here is some information about three-way catalytic converters: 1. A three-way catalytic converter is an external purification device installed on the car's exhaust pipe, located between the engine exhaust outlet and the muffler. Typically, there is an oxygen sensor in front of the catalytic converter and another one behind it. Vehicles with an engine displacement of 2.5 liters or more usually have two catalytic converters, either front and rear or left and right. 2. The internal structure of a three-way catalytic converter consists of: a stainless steel shell, a vibration damping pad (also called a mat), and a catalyst substrate (which can be either a honeycomb ceramic substrate or a metal substrate). 3. The working principle is: it converts harmful gases such as CO, HC, and NOx in the car's exhaust into harmless carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction reactions.