Rare earth elements (REE): applications

Rare earth elements (REE) have a wide range of applications, including in the aerospace industry, electronics, energy, and optics. They are used in the production of neodymium magnets, batteries, catalysts, lasers, and fiber optic technology. 

Find out in what forms you can invest in them and what individual metals are used for—you will see that without them, today's world could not exist. And resources are limited...

Cer

• Metallic ceramic
• Cerium oxide

Areas of application

The metal alloy containing it is used in steel production—it consists of various metals and rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and yttrium. Industry also needs cerium in the form of cerium oxides for coating automotive exhaust catalysts. This metal is also used as a polishing agent for optical glass, as a UV absorber, for example in car windshields, and for coloring and decolorizing glass. 

Dysprosium

• Dysprosium oxide
• Metallic dysprosium, powder, bars

Areas of application

Dysprosium is an important component of permanent magnets (Nd-Fe-B magnets) used in wind turbines, electronic devices, and various small motors in the automotive sector. As part of the raw material requirements for the energy transition, rare earth metals will continue to gain in importance in the long term. Dysprosium is also used as an additive in luminescent materials such as halogen lamps. Alloys with rare earth metals such as zinc, alloys and as an alloying additive to zirconium are used in evaporated materials and spray targets. Its alloy with lead has applications as a shielding material in nuclear reactors. 

Coat of arms

• Metal coat of arms
• Erb oxide

Areas of application

Its main application is in the glass industry, where it is used to produce infrared-absorbing glass. This element is also used as a laser in nuclear medicine, and in dentistry it is used to produce all kinds of ceramic products. In nuclear technology, this rare earth element serves as a neutron absorber. It is also used in catalytic converters. 

Europe

• Europ metallic
• Europium oxide

Areas of application

Europium is mainly used as an additive in the production of luminescent materials to produce red light effects. It is therefore a component of flat-screen displays and aviation instruments. Europium is also used in nuclear technology because it absorbs thermal neutrons.

Gadolin

• Metallic gadolinium
• Gadolinium oxide

Areas of application

In nuclear reactors, it is used to produce control rods. It is also a component of many magnetic alloys, such as iron and chromium. This rare earth element is used as an MRI contrast agent in pharmaceutical diagnostics and ceramic spray powders.

Gadolinium is needed for the production of special optical glasses, luminescent materials, and fluorescent powders that make radar screens glow green. In the form of gadolinium gallate, it is used in the production of optical components, for example in laser devices and as a substrate material for magneto-optical memories.

Holm

• Metal holm
• Holmium oxide

Areas of application

This rare earth element is used in optical glass and metal halide lamps. Its excellent magnetic properties make it indispensable for generating strong magnetic fields. In atomic technology, it is used as a shielding material. Laser materials such as yttrium iron garnet, yttrium aluminum garnet, and yttrium lithium fluoride, which are needed for the production of microwave components and semiconductor lasers, are often doped with holmium.

Lanthanum

• Lanthanum metal
• Lanthanum oxide

Areas of application

Lanthanum metal is used in the foundry industry, where it is added to cast iron; it also serves as an alloying additive and reducing agent. In oxide form, it is used in optics and in chemical-resistant glass, such as camera lenses and telescopes. It is also used in the production of pigments, paints, and varnishes. In addition, it is essential in car exhaust systems and petrochemical catalysts. It is used as an activator in the production of phosphors. It is also needed for the production of animal feed and fertilizers.

Lutet

• Metallic lutetium
• Lutetium oxide

Areas of application

Lutetium is mainly processed in the form of oxide. It is used in industry as an additive in the production of phosphors and security inks. The oxide is also used in laser technology and for the production of scintillation crystals. In addition, other industrial applications include the production of mixed oxides and other organic oxides.

Neodymium

• Neodymium metal
• Neodymium oxide

Areas of application

A significant portion of the neodymium consumed worldwide is used to produce neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) permanent magnets, which are used in electric cars and wind turbines. It is also a component of catalysts in rubber production and is used as an additive in the production of phosphors. It is processed into special optical glasses and added to achieve color effects in glass production. It is used as an additive to magnesium alloys for the aerospace industry to increase the strength of aluminum alloys, modify stainless steels, and improve the properties of cast steels. Other applications include high-temperature resistant enamel coatings, ceramic materials, and mixed oxides for automotive catalysts.

praseodymium

• Metallic praseodymium
• Praseodymium oxide

Areas of application

Together with neodymium, this raw material is used to produce extremely strong permanent magnets for hybrid and electric motors and to manufacture superconducting materials. Praseodymium compounds are needed for the production of magnesium alloys in aircraft construction and are used to color glass and enamel. It is also processed to absorb UV radiation in protective eye lenses.

Samar

• Metallic Samar
• Samarium oxide

Areas of application

Like many other rare earth elements, this element is used in the production of permanent magnets. Magnets made of samarium and cobalt alloy are characterized by high temperature resistance up to 300 degrees and are therefore ideal for generators and dryers, among other things. Another area of application is as a thermal neutron absorber in nuclear technology. It is used in chemical catalysis and cancer therapy, as well as in optical glass and laser technology.

Scandal

• Metallic scandium
• Scandium oxide

Areas of application

As an alloying element in titanium, nickel, and other major metals, scandium improves grain fineness, strength, and mechanical properties. In the aerospace industry, which relies on increasingly efficient lightweight structures, weight reduction can be achieved with aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloys. This rare earth element is also used as an additive in laser technology, in the production of ceramic materials, and in mercury lamps for stadium lighting. Scandium plays a key role as a catalyst in the production of hydrogen chloride.

Terb

• Metallic terbium
• Terbium oxide

Areas of application

Due to its strong magnetizing and phosphorescent properties, terbium offers a wide range of possible applications. For example, together with zirconium oxide, terbium is important in fuel cell technology. In addition to dysprosium, neodymium, and europium, terbium is used to increase coercivity. It is also added to phosphors to produce green color effects. In dentistry, it is used in the manufacture of all-ceramic systems.

Ytterbium

• Metallic ytterbium
• Ytterbium oxide

Areas of application

Ytterbium is added to stainless steel alloys and processed in the production of catalysts and semiconductors. Like other rare earth elements, ytterbium is used in the production of permanent magnets. Here, it is alloyed with cobalt, iron, and manganese. In nuclear medicine, the ytterbium isotope serves as a source of gamma radiation.

Itr

• Metallic yttrium
• Yttrium oxide

Areas of application

To improve grain refinement, yttrium is added to alloys with chromium, titanium, molybdenum, and zirconium. As an alloying additive to aluminum and magnesium, it increases strength. It is also used in the production of luminescent materials and high-performance ceramics, e.g., for coating aircraft engines. Other applications include the dental industry and the production of laser crystals, as well as mixed oxides for automotive catalysts.