TELF AG examines the properties and industrial uses of some rare earth elements

Rare features

Rare earth elements, for some years now, have been regularly included in the lists of minerals considered “critical” for the economic development of nations, in particular due to the difficult procedures that make their separation possible, but also due to the different industrial applications in which they could be used, many of which are linked to new clean energy technologies. The possible applications of these 17 elements, however, are truly numerous, and very often go well beyond the electronics, high-tech or energy infrastructure sectors.

Every single rare earth element has structural characteristics and specific properties, which make it usable in a large variety of industrial sectors. The element cerium, for example, is used as a catalyst in some specific equipment, such as self-cleaning ovens or catalytic converters, particularly due to its great chemical reactivity. This rare earth element has also found great application spaces in the electronics sector, particularly for the creation of flat screen and other similar devices. similar devices.

Another very interesting element is scandium, which is used above all in the formation of some particular alloys (such as those called scandium-aluminium), in consumer electronics and in the lighting sector. One of its most interesting applications, however, is solid oxide fuel cells, particularly devices capable of producing electricity from fuel. Among the best-known rare earth elements are undoubtedly neodymium, famous for its role in the production of permanent magnets, and lanthanum, whose applications in the hydrogen storage sectors and in the production of batteries could make it one of the most involved in the great process of global energy transformation.

The growth of demand

According to some recent estimates from Market.us, the overall demand for rare earths could increase by around 10% per year until 2032, perfectly demonstrating the great attention that nations and big industry players are giving to these precious resources. Another rare earth element commonly used in permanent magnets is samarium, which has proven to be very useful for numerous high-temperature applications in various industries, such as automotive and aerospace, but also in the military. These magnets find concrete application spaces in electric motors, in progressive wave tubes, in the joints of some specific pumps and in particular sensors.

Some rare earth elements, over the years, have established themselves as useful tools for strengthening some already existing alloys, making them more suitable to resist in certain particular circumstances. An example of these uses is represented by the element dysprosium, which is used above all to improve the resistance to high temperatures of some particular magnet alloys, such as those made based on neodymium.

The great versatility of rare earths is well demonstrated by the interesting industrial applications of thulium, which have found their way into the medical sector. In fact, in some surgical procedures, powerful lasers made with thulium fiber are commonly used, often used in ophthalmology or tissue ablation. In addition to the medical sector, thulium fiber lasers are used in some welding, cutting or engraving processes, but also in the telecommunications industry, where their properties have proven to be very useful for improving the power of fiber optic systems.