What are the applications of dysprosium oxide?

 

Dysprosium oxide, also known as dysprosium oxide or dysprosium(III) oxide, is a compound composed of dysprosium and oxygen. It is a light yellowish white powder, insoluble in water and most acids, but soluble in hot concentrated nitric acid. Dysprosium oxide has gained significant importance in various industries due to its unique properties and applications.

One of the main applications of dysprosium oxide is as a raw material for the production of dysprosium metal. Metal dysprosium is widely used in the manufacture of various high-performance magnets, such as NdFeB permanent magnets. Dysprosium oxide is a precursor in the production process of dysprosium metal. By utilizing dysprosium oxide as a raw material, manufacturers can produce high-quality dysprosium metal, which is critical to the magnet industry.

In addition, dysprosium oxide is also used as an additive in glass to help reduce the thermal expansion coefficient of glass. This makes the glass more resistant to thermal stress and increases its durability. By incorporating dysprosium oxide into the glass production process, manufacturers can produce high-quality glass products for a variety of applications, including optoelectronics, displays and lenses.

Another important application of dysprosium oxide is the manufacture of NdFeB permanent magnets. These magnets are used in applications such as electric vehicles, wind turbines and computer hard drives. Dysprosium oxide is used as an additive in these magnets. Adding about 2-3% dysprosium to NdFeB magnets can significantly increase their coercive force. Coercivity refers to a magnet’s ability to resist losing its magnetism, making dysprosium oxide a key ingredient in the production of high-performance magnets.

Dysprosium oxide is also used in other industries, such as magneto-optical storage materials, Dy-Fe alloy , yttrium iron or yttrium aluminum garnet, and atomic energy. Among magneto-optical storage materials, dysprosium oxide facilitates the storage and retrieval of data using magneto-optical technology. Yttrium iron or yttrium aluminum garnet is a crystal used in lasers to which dysprosium oxide can be added to enhance its performance. In addition, dysprosium oxide plays a vital role in the atomic energy industry, where it is used as a neutron absorber in the control rods of nuclear reactors.

In the past, demand for dysprosium was not high due to its limited applications. However, as technology advances and the demand for high-performance materials increases, dysprosium oxide becomes very important. Dysprosium oxide’s unique properties, such as its high melting point, excellent thermal stability and magnetic properties, make it a valuable ingredient in various industries.

In conclusion, dysprosium oxide is a versatile compound that can find applications in multiple industries. It is used as raw material for the production of metal dysprosium, glass additives, NdFeB permanent magnets, magneto-optical storage materials, yttrium iron or yttrium aluminum garnet, atomic energy industry, etc. With its unique properties and growing demand, dysprosium oxide plays a vital role in advancing technology and meeting the requirements of various high-performance applications.


Post time: Oct-27-2023