Lutetium (Lu): LCD Sputtering Targets, Activator for Phosphors, Specialty Alloy Additive

Lutetium is a silvery-white metal, the hardest and densest among rare earth elements; melting point 1663°C, boiling point 3395°C, density 9.8404. Lutetium is relatively stable in air and has strong corrosion resistance.

Applications

1. As LCD sputtering targets.
2. Can also be used as an activator for certain phosphor materials.
3. Can also serve as a special alloy additive.

Product Series

Health and Safety Information

Packaging Specifications

• Standard packaging: 50 kg/drum, 500 kg/pallet, ton bags
• Sample packaging: 500 g/bag, 1 kg/bottle

About Lutetium

After separating lutetium from other rare earth elements through ion exchange or solvent extraction technology, lutetium metal can be prepared by metallothermic reduction. Lithium thermal reduction of rare earth chlorides differs from calcium thermal reduction in that the former's reduction process occurs in the gas phase.

The lithium thermal reduction reactor has two heating zones, with the reduction and distillation processes conducted in the same equipment. Anhydrous lutetium chloride is placed in the upper titanium reactor crucible (which also serves as the LuCl3 distillation chamber), while the reducing agent lithium metal is placed in the lower crucible. The stainless steel reaction vessel is then evacuated to 7Pa before heating begins.

When the temperature reaches 1000°C, it is maintained for a certain period to allow full reaction between LuCl3 vapor and lithium vapor. The reduced lutetium metal solid particles fall into the lower crucible. After completing the reduction reaction, only the lower crucible is heated to distill LiCl into the upper crucible. The reduction process typically takes about 10 hours.

To obtain relatively pure lutetium metal, 99.97% high-purity lithium must be used as the reducing agent along with twice-distilled anhydrous LuCl3.