Global Annual Production (2022)
Dysprosium Oxide
Retains magnetic force at extreme heatWhat is Dysprosium Oxide?
The heavy metal dysprosium oxide is one of the four most important rare earths required for magnet construction. The name originates from Greek, where “Dysprosium” means “hard to get at,” aptly describing the significant effort required to separate this heavy rare earth from other lanthanides. Only after high-vacuum distillation is dysprosium oxide obtained with a purity level high enough for industrial use. Such a high production effort, coupled with increasing industrial demand, is bound to lead to scarcity.
The light silvery-shining dysprosium in metallic form is particularly valuable for industry because it is very base and thus extremely reactive. The element’s most important property is its high coercivity. This protects magnets from demagnetization at high temperatures, making dysprosium oxide indispensable for the production of electric cars and wind turbines. Additionally, dysprosium, alongside the rare earth holmium, has the highest magnetic moment. This property describes the magnetic strength and orientation of a particle. Dysprosium oxide is also used in generators and in the construction of control rods for nuclear power plants. Finally, it also plays a role in the production of halogen and energy-saving lamps, as well as high-quality lasers.
Price trend
For years, industry has attempted to reduce the proportion of dysprosium in high-performance magnets, for example. Nevertheless, there is no way around this rare earth, which is why the International Energy Agency, just like terbium oxide, designates it as a key element. The German Raw Materials Agency (DERA) anticipates a sixfold increase in demand by 2040, while pure dysprosium, required for magnet production, is almost exclusively manufactured in China. Due to the associated country risk and the scarcity of the raw material, rising prices are likely in the future.
Main areas of application
- Heat-resistant alloys for permanent magnets
- Nuclear reactor control rods
- Laser technology
- Halogen and metal halide lamps
Facts about Dysprosium Oxide
annual global production volume
By 2050, dysprosium oxide will be the rare earth with the largest supply gap
Of all rare earths, dysprosium oxide is expected to have the largest supply gap in the future. According to a study by the University of Leuven, the anticipated dysprosium demand for clean energy by 2050 will be 433% higher than in 2020.
Mining and extraction
The majority of the world’s dysprosium oxide production originates from China, with smaller quantities coming from the USA, Australia, India, and Russia. Dysprosium is extracted from the minerals xenotime, monazite, and bastnäsite, as well as euxenite, fergusonite, gadolinite, and polycrase. In the production of pure dysprosium, dysprosium oxide must first be separated from other lanthanides. Subsequently, it is reacted with hydrogen fluoride to form dysprosium fluoride. Reduction to metallic dysprosium then occurs with the aid of calcium. Additionally, highly pure dysprosium can be produced through subsequent high-vacuum distillation.
Growth markets
- Halogen and metal halide lamps, as well as energy-saving lamps
- Laser technology
- Nuclear reactor control rods
- Alloys for permanent magnets
- Electric mobility
- Wind power
Interesting fact:
Its ability to protect against demagnetization due to heat can also make dysprosium oxide a critical component in the infrastructure of the modern information society. Hard drives, for instance, contain permanent magnets and must be protected from elevated temperatures. In a world where the amount of digitally stored information is growing rapidly, dysprosium oxide thus plays a crucial role by increasing the reliability and lifespan of hard drives.
