What are the main uses of rare earth?

The main uses of rare earth elements in new materials are as follows

1. Magnetism

Some rare earth elements have single electron orbitals and large magnetic moments.  

Permanent magnet materials: the first-generation Ndfeb magnet Nd2Fe14B, the third-generation Samarium iron-nitrogen magnet (Sm2Fe14Nx). Used in computer, new energy vehicles, wind power, energy-saving home appliances and other fields.  

Paramagnetic refrigeration, which makes use of the demagnetization and heat absorption characteristics of paramagnetic materials, such as gadolinium (Gd) gallium (Ga) alloy, to refrigerate at extremely low temperatures.  

2. Glow

Use spectral properties.  

Rare earth tricolor phosphor, the basis of energy-saving lamps.  R Red: Y2O3:Eu3+ Europium activated yttrium oxide, G Green: (Ce, Te) MgAl1O19 Cerium terbium activated magnesium aluminate B Blue: BaMgAl10O17: Barium magnesium aluminate activated by Eu²⁺ Europium  

White LED, metal halide lamp, plasma PDP and LIQUID crystal backlight CCFL also need rare earth elements.  

3. Catalysis

Use with other elements coordination, complexation ability, do catalyst.  

Oil refining (oil cracking, etc.)  

Polymer polymerization (rubber, etc.)  

Small molecules (dealing with nitrogen oxides, etc.)  

4. Material modification

Still coordination complexation ability, do stabilizer PVC polyvinyl chloride plastic.  

Aging resistance, enhance the coupling effect with the filler, suspend the chain reaction of chlorine atoms (will lead to plastic degradation) polyurethane rubber heat resistant UV, using its ability to absorb 230~320nm UV light aging resistance: add to the film, rubber, coating and other polymer materials.  

Agriculture: converting ultraviolet light into red and orange light to increase plant photosynthesis and yield.  

5. High-end polishing

An oxide of cerium (Ce), used to polish glass, semiconductors, etc., with the advantage of having both chemical and physical effects (CMP,chemical mechanical polishing).  

6. Thermal applications  

Thermal barrier materials with high temperature resistance of 1400℃, while thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity are still very low.

Heat absorption, make coating, enhance radiation heat absorption by more than 30%.  

7. Hydrogen storage

Compared with other hydrogen storage materials, easy activation, moderate balance pressure, resistance to impurity gas poisoning, hydrogen absorption and discharge balance pressure difference is small, typical for LaNi5 (rare earth lanthanum nickel alloy).  

Batteries for new energy vehicles.  

Other household appliances. 

8. Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery  

It is very effective as a fertilizer additive.  

As a feed additive, which is said to be extremely effective.