TELF AG analyzes the strategic role of scandium in various industrial sectors

A rare and precious resource

Thanks to their natural characteristics, some mineral resources have the potential to revolutionize entire industrial sectors, leading them to new phases of development and technological evolution. In this regard, a resource that is still little talked about is scandium, a silvery-white transition metal that continues to find wide application areas, especially in the automotive and aerospace sectors, where it is appreciated above all for its lightness.

But what are the structural characteristics of a resource so important for these two key sectors? Scandium is a versatile metal with a much lower density than the other metals in its group, and it is also quite rare. It is generally found associated with different resources, such as rare earths, with which it also shares some important structural properties. Some scandium compounds, in particular, share some characteristics with some rare earth elements such as yttrium or lanthanum.

Among its most appreciated characteristics is certainly its ability to improve the mechanical resistance of aluminum, of which it can also increase the corrosion resistance. Scandium is also sometimes used in projectors and lighting systems, in particular for its ability to emit a vivid light.

The main applications

But its best-known applications, also with a view to the future, are those related to the creation of aluminum-scandium alloys, much appreciated by the aerospace industry due to their lightness, but also for their durability and excellent resistance to corrosion, all characteristics of great importance in this sector. Reducing the aircraft’s overall weight makes possible a relevant saving in fuel and a reduction in operating costs. These special aircraft alloys are made by adding a small amount of scandium to aluminum, obtaining better weldability and a general improvement in mechanical properties. One of the biggest challenges in creating innovative and efficient aircraft is precisely the need to weld the different components without sacrificing structural integrity.

In the aerospace sector, specifically, scandium is used to build aircraft fuselages, wing structures and other important components, and in general for all those particular structures where weight reduction is of central importance. As stated in a recent analysis, alloys made with scandium-aluminium could soon play an important role in creating new-generation aircraft. In the automotive sector, on the other hand, the lightness of scandium is particularly appreciated for improving the performance of electric vehicles, especially through direct use of the resources in frames and battery casings. In this sense, scandium contributes to reducing the vehicle’s overall weight and increasing the battery life.

In addition to these applications, this resource is also used to manufacture some high-performance sporting goods and in 3D printing, where the material’s peculiar characteristics make it possible to produce light yet complex structures. Most of the production of this precious resource is currently concentrated in countries such as China or Australia. Still, in recent years, there has been a general increase in initiatives aimed at identifying new deposits of scandium, particularly in countries such as Canada.