Applications
Aluminum
Medical assembly, electronics, aircraft and aerospace, construction, structural components, and private and commercial transportation
Boron
Boron fibers for composite structures such as aircraft components, automobile parts, sporting equipment, bulletproof vests, and tank armor, borosilicate glass for laboratory equipment and optical fibers, ceramics, abrasives, metallurgical alloy for automotive components, cutting tools, and construction materials, semiconductors such as diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits, and magnets
Cerium
Chemical and automotive catalysts for catalytic converters and emission control systems, superalloys, ferrocerium rod fire starters and flints, polishing and strengthening glass, creating ceramics, water treatment processes for removing impurities, contaminants, and heavy metals from wastewater and industrial effluents, phosphors for fluorescent lamps, LEDs, and television screens, polymers for automotive interiors, electrical cables, and building materials
Cesium
Atomic clocks (the international definition of a second is based on the cesium atom’s vibration frequency of 9,192,631,770 oscillations/second), Rankine-cycle turboelectric generators, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation, solar photovoltaic cells, photoelectric cells, thermoionic generators, ion engines in spacecraft and satellites, and various electronics
Dysprosium
Nuclear reactor control rods, sonar sensors, CD and DVD coatings, laser diodes, metal halide lamps, alloys are valuable for making neodymium-iron-boron magnets, and permanent magnets in wind turbines, motors, electric vehicles and generators.
Erbium
Nuclear reactor control rods, infrared absorbing glass, fiber optic enhancement and laser surgery, laser engraving, material processing, and scientific research, catalysts for organic synthesis, hydrogenation, and esterification, specialty alloys for aerospace, automotive, and electronics
Europium
Neutron absorber in nuclear reactors, security inks and anti-counterfeiting measures, LEDs, optical glasses, laser window material, light emitting nanostructures, luminous materials, mobile phone displays, and a catalyst used in steel manufacturing
Gadolinium
Neutron absorber in nuclear reactors, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents, magnetocaloric refrigeration, magnetostrictive sensors, actuators, and transducers, optics and photonics applications, including lasers, optical isolators, and Faraday rotators, magnetic recording media, and luminescent materials
Holmium
Flux concentrator for high magnetic fields, MRI resolution enhancer, nuclear control rods, solid state lasers, magnetostrictive sensors, actuators, and transducers, optical filters for optical instruments, spectroscopy and laser applications, catalyst in organic synthesis and petrochemical processes, colorant for cubic zirconia and glass
Lanthanum
Fluid catalytic cracking in petroleum refining, high refractive index glass for camera lenses and telescopes, carbon arc lamps, lanthanum-nickel hydrides for hydrogen storage for fuel cells, hydrogen sensors, and hydrogen purification, catalysts in a range of chemical reactions including automotive catalytic converters, liquid crystal flat-panel displays, Lanthanum-nickel-hydride (LaNiH) batteries for hybrid vehicles, optical coatings
Lutetium
High-refractive-index glasses, optical lenses, and optical fibers, radiopharmaceuticals for targeted radionuclide therapy, Lutetium-doped laser crystals for medical imaging, spectroscopy, and scientific research, scintillation detectors for medical imaging devices, such as positron emission tomography (PET) scanners and gamma cameras, rare earth magnets for electronic devices, motors, and generators, high-temperature alloys for aerospace components, turbine engines, and thermal barrier coatings
Magnesium
Automotive transmission cases, engine blocks, steering wheels, and seat frames, aircraft bodies, landing gear, and engine parts, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices, orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, and medical devices, power tools and hand tools, power tools, hand tools, wastewater treatment and catalysts
Neodymium
Permanent magnets for electric motors and generators in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles, and wind turbines, MRI machines and other medical devices, magnetic separators and magnetic resonance equipment, headphones, speakers, and hard disk drives, magnetic couplings and magnetic bearings, laser cutting, welding, and marking, medical and dental lasers for surgical procedures, tissue ablation, and dental treatments, Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) systems for remote sensing, atmospheric monitoring, and surveying
Potassium
Major component of fertilizers, production of soap, detergents, and other cleaning agents, manufacturing of glass, ceramics, and specialty chemicals, refining of gold and other precious metals, disinfectant and oxidizing agent in water treatment plants, treating swimming pool water and purifying industrial process water.
Praseodymium
Permanent magnets for electric motors and generators in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles, and wind turbines, MRI machines and other medical devices, headphones, speakers, and hard disk drives, Praseodymium-containing alloys for automotive components, aircraft engines, and structural materials for aerospace and industrial applications, phosphors for fluorescent lamps, LEDs, and television screens, partial replacement for cerium in automotive catalytic converters and diesel engine exhaust systems, pumps, valves, fasteners, heat exchangers, and heat transfer equipment
Titanium
Aircraft components such as airframes, landing gear, engine components, and structural parts, orthopedic implants, dental implants, surgical instruments, and medical devices, heat exchangers, tanks, reactors, and piping systems, automotive components such as exhaust systems, valves, springs, and suspension, bicycle frames, golf clubs, tennis rackets, and ski bindings, architectural applications such as cladding, roofing, and façades, eyeglass frames, watches, jewelry, and mobile phone cases
Zirconium
Cladding materials for fuel rods in nuclear reactors, reactors, vessels, heat exchangers, and piping systems for petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals, jet engines, turbine blades, and structural parts, high-performance ceramics and refractory materials, orthopedic applications such as hip and knee replacements, dental implants, and surgical instruments, optical lenses, camera lenses, and lasers, host matrices for encapsulating radioactive waste materials for long-term storage, metal finishing and surface treatment