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PIDC has been a pioneer in selling rare earth materials in volume since the early 1990s. Over the past 20 years, PIDCʼs rare earth materials business has evolved from simply trading materials to producing value-added rare earth materials for worldwide distribution. PIDCʼs manufacturing facilities specialize in producing high purity rare earth salts, oxides, and inorganic materials. Our rare earth salts are tailored to our customer's requirements and are known for their exceptional purity control of transition metals and halogen group elements. PIDC specializes in the porosity and particle size control of its rare earth oxides, tailoring these physical properties to achieve optimal performance in their intended applications. Similar to the production of their rare earth salt and oxides, PIDC’s inorganic materials continually meet and exceed industry-wide standards for their use across numerous applications.
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Our portfolio includes a wide variety of rare earth products which can be further customized to meet your specific needs:
Lanthanum exists elementally as an extremely soft, luminous metal that is readily oxidized in air and water and reacts with elemental carbon, nitrogen, boron, selenium, silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur. Lanthanum compounds have numerous applications, including catalysis, glass additives, ignition elements, fabrication of nodular cast iron, electron cathodes, water purification, and solid oxide fuel cells.
Forms Available
- Lanthanum Oxide
- Lanthanum Metal
- Lanthanum Hydroxide
- Lanthanum Carbonate
- Lanthanum Nitrate
- Lanthanum Acetate
- Lanthanum Chloride
- Lanthanum Flouride
- Lanthanum Phosphate
- Other (Contact Us)
Cerium is the most abundant of the rare earth elements. Elemental cerium is a soft, silvery metal that is very reactive in air and will ignite with the scrape of a knife. Cerium exists in either of two oxidation states, cerous (III) and ceric (IV). Applications for cerium compounds include the manufacture of pyrophoric alloys, glass components and coloring aids, glass/surface polishing, automotive catalysis, and petroleum refining.
Forms Available
- Cerium Oxide
- Cerium Metal
- Cerium Hydroxide
- Cerium Carbonate
- Cerium Nitrate
- Cerium Acetate
- Cerium Chloride
- Cerium Oxalate
- Cerium Rich Mischmetal
- Cerium Ammonium Nitrate
- Cerium Zirconium Oxide
- Other (Contact Us)
Praseodymium exists in the (III) oxidation state and in the (IV) state, though its oxide is most stable as a mix of the two to form Pr6O11. Praseodymium metal is slightly less reactive in air than most rare earth metals. Praseodymium compounds exhibit an array of different colors from jet black to lime green. Compounds of praseodymium are used for their unique color in glass and coatings and some lighting applications. Praseodymium also finds use in high-powered magnets and high-strength metals.
Forms Available
- Praseodymium Oxide
- Praseodymium Metal
- Praseodymium Hydroxide
- Praseodymium Carbonate
- Praseodymium Nitrate
- Praseodymium Acetate
- Praseodymium Chloride
- Other (Contact Us)
Neodymium compounds vary in color from blue to purple to red and give the lanthanide some unique commercial uses. Neodymium is popular in general lanthanide applications and can be used to gauge the strength of the rare earth market as a whole. Neodymium compounds are commonly used in glasses and coatings for their unique colors and ultraviolet absorption capabilities. Neodymium is also used in electronic, auto catalyst, high-powered magnet, and rubber catalyst applications.
Forms Available
- Neodymium Oxide
- Neodymium Metal
- Neodymium Carbonate
- Neodymium Nitrate
- Neodymium Acetate
- Neodymium Chloride
- Other (Contact Us)
Samarium is a bright silver metal that is soft and ductile and reacts somewhat slower in air than most rare earth metals. Samarium is utilized in glass applications for its ability to absorb infrared light. Samarium is also used to dope calcium fluoride crystals for use in optical lasers to enhance performance. The oxide exhibits catalytic properties in the dehydration and dehydrogenation of ethyl alcohol. Samarium is also used as a neutron absorber in nuclear applications.
Forms Available
- Samarium Oxide
- Samarium Metal
- Samarium Carbonate
- Samarium Nitrate
- Samarium Acetate
- Other (Contact Us)
Europium is not only the most reactive but also one of the rarest of the rare earth metals. Its difficulty to isolate and overall rarity make europium one of the most expensive of the rare earth metals. However, it's still used in many common consumer goods. Europium has found its most significant use as a phosphor activator and is widely used in europium-activated yttrium compounds to produce red color in televisions, computer monitors and LED displays. Europium is also used to dope plastics in lasers.
Forms Available
- Europium Oxide
- Europium Nitrate
- Europium Flouride
- Europium Oxalate
- Other (Contact Us)
Gadolinium metal is used to enhance iron, chromium and similar alloys to increase their resistance to oxidation at high temperatures. The metal is also a surprisingly good superconductor, making it useful in some special materials and alloys. Gadolinium yttrium garnets are used in microwave applications and other gadolinium compounds are used in color television phosphors. In the medical realm, solutions of gadolinium compounds are used as intravenous contrasts to enhance images in patients undergoing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Forms Available
- Gadolinium Oxide
- Gadolinium Metal
- Gadolinium Nitrate
- Gadolinium Chloride
- Gadolinium Flouride
- Other (Contact Us)
Elemental terbium is a soft, silvery metal that reacts in air slower than most rare earth metals. Aside from its metal form, terbium is also available in its oxide form, which is a brown or dark red powder. Terbium is used as a dopant in materials used in solid-state devices. The oxide has the potential to be used as an activator in green phosphors for television tubes. Sodium terbium borate is used as a laser material and emits coherent light at 0.546 um. Also, Terbium can be used with ZrO2 as a crystal stabilizer in high-temperature fuel cells.
Forms Available
- Terbium Oxide
- Terbium Metal
- Terbium Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Elemental dysprosium exists as a silvery-white metal that is stable in air and soft enough to cut with a knife. Dysprosium metal is found in permanent magnets for use in audio speakers and industrial applications and can also be used for magnetorestricitive alloys. Dysprosium's thermal neutron absorption cross-section and high melting point make it ideal for combining with stainless steel in nuclear applications. Along with other small applications, Dysprosium oxide has been used in nickel cement for cooling nuclear reactor rods.
Forms Available
- Dysprosium Oxide
- Dysprosium Metal
- Dysprosium Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Elemental holmium is a lustrous, ductile metal with unusual magnetic properties. Holmium is used to dope yttrium-aluminum garnets used in laser surgery and is also used in to quench nuclear chain reactions in fission reactors. Holmium finds some use in alloy and phosphors production as well as in filters for UV Spectrometer calibration. Holmium is also popular among lighting researchers and ceramics companies.
Forms Available
- Holmium Oxide
- Holmium Nitrate
- Holmium Flouride
- Other (Contact Us)
Erbium metal is lustrous and silvery-white and has a very soft and malleable form. Erbium metal oxidizes less quickly in air than other rare earth metals, though it is similar in most other respects. The oxide stands out amongst other rare earth oxides with its unique pale pink color. Erbium metal has uses in metallurgy and superconductors though exclusive uses for the oxide exist because of its distinct, pastel pink color. Due to its sharp absorption lines, Erbium Oxide is used widely as a coloring agent for glass and ceramics. The medical field has some use for erbium as a dopant for lasers used in surgery. The powdered oxide is also used in fiber optics and glass for its ultraviolet absorption capabilities.
Forms Available
- Erbium Oxide
- Erbium Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Thulium is the rarest of the rare earth elements and is found in small supply (<0.6%) amongst other lanthanide ores. Thulium metal is used in limited specialty alloy applications and may be useful because of its nuclear, conductive, and magnetic properties. Thulium 169 that has been bombarded in nuclear reactors may be used as a radiation source in portable x-ray machines. Another possible application is use in ceramic magnets (ferrites) for microwave devices.
Forms Available
- Thulium Oxide
- Thulium Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Elemental ytterbium is a soft, silvery metal that is quite stable, though will oxidize if left exposed to air or water for very long. The metal exhibits typical metallic conductive properties, but when brought to high pressure (>16,000 atm) at room temperature, the metal becomes a semiconductor. Stainless steel has shown increased grain refinement, strength, and other mechanical attributes when combined with small amounts of ytterbium. Ytterbium is used in limited phosphor applications and in certain kinds of specialized catalysts and ceramics.
Forms Available
- Ytterbium Oxide
- Ytterbium Metal
- Ytterbium Nitrate
- Ytterbium Chloride
- Ytterbium Flouride
- Other (Contact Us)
Lutetium is one of the rarest of the rare earth elements. Some applications exist in the lighting phosphor industry while others use lutetium in cracking and polymerization catalysts. While there is research being done on lutetium's use in specialty alloys, no large markets currently exist for the heavy lanthanide.
Forms Available
- Lutetium Oxide
- Lutetium Metal
- Lutetium Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Though yttrium is neither a lanthanide nor an actinide, it is considered a rare earth element because of its similarity and natural proximity to the lanthanides. Elemental Yttrium is a soft, luminous metal and is relatively stable in air, while yttrium oxide is the more popular form of the element. Yttrium oxide has found many uses in industrial and commercial products. Several different yttrium garnets call for the rare earth. Yttrium-aluminum garnet is used as a synthetic diamond for technical applications including lasers used in surgery and yttrium-iron garnets make useful microwave filters. Small amounts of yttrium (0.1 to 0.2%) can be used to reduce the grain size in chromium, molybdenum, zirconium, and titanium, and to increase the strength of aluminum and magnesium alloys. Adding yttrium to glass lends shock resistance and low expansion characteristics, which make the element popular in glass and ceramic applications as well.
Forms Available
- Yttrium Oxide
- Yttrium Metal
- Yttrium Carbonate
- Yttrium Nitrate
- Yttrium Acetate
- Yttrium Chloride
- Yttrium Flouride
- Other (Contact Us)
Scandium is believed to be a very common element in stars such as the Sun, but is only the 50th most abundant element on Earth and is distributed very widely among 800 different earthly species of minerals. Elemental scandium is a silver-white metal and is a very light metal with a melting point much higher than that of aluminum. Scandium oxide is used for high-intensity lights and scandium iodide is added to mercury vapor lamps to produce highly efficient light sources that resemble natural sunlight. The crude oil industry uses scandium for isotope tracing in refineries. Scandium metal is used in alloys with aluminum to produce many consumer products such as baseball bats. The metal is also of interest to spacecraft research because of its lightweight and high melting temperature.
Forms Available
- Scandium Oxide
- Scandium Metal
- Other (Contact Us)
Natural zirconium ores almost always contain hafnium and separation of the two is somewhat difficult. Elemental zirconium is a gray-white lustrous metal that is relatively stable in air unless finely divided and/or at high temperature. The metal is resistant to most alkalis, acids, and seawater, among other compounds. Zirconium metal is widely used in nuclear applications (low hafnium) and applications that require special corrosion resistance, such as surgical appliances and lamp filaments. Zirconium oxide is used in gemological applications when in pure form. The impure oxide is used for shock and heat-resistant crucibles and linings. The oxide is also used in the glass and ceramic industries as a refractory metal. The oxide can be stabilized with yttria (or other rare earth elements) and alumina.
Forms Available
- Zirconium Oxide
- Zirconium Carbonate
- Zirconium Nitrate
- Zirconium Acetate
- Yttrium Stabilized Zirconia
- Other (Contact Us)
Hafnium, the 45th most abundant element on Earth, is rarely found free in nature. Instead, it is present in most zirconium minerals. Elemental Hafnium is heavily resistant to corrosion and is unaffected by water, air, and all acids, except for hydrogen fluoride. Hafnium has an important role in many commercial applications, including electronics, lightbulbs, ceramics, nuclear power, and metallic alloys.
Forms Available
- Hafnium Oxide
- Hafium Metal
- Other (Contact Us)
Lithium, a soft, silvery metal, is the least dense metal and solid element and is highly reactive and flammable. Lithium compunds have several applications, including glass and ceramics, lithium-ion batteries, and lubricants. Lithium is also used in the manufacturing of alloys to improve strength and create a lighter componets.
Forms Available
- Lithium Oxide
- Lithium Metal
- Other (Contact Us)
Elemental vanadium is a hard, silvery grey, malleable metal. It is rarely found on its own in nature as it typically bound with other minerals. Vanadium-containing ores are never mined for the vanadium alone; it is typically produced as a byproduct of other metals. The vast majority of vanadium metal is used as a steel additive, as they produce very tough alloys. The oxide is commonly used as a coloring agent in glass and ceramics to obtain a blue/green tint. Additionally, the oxide is commonly used in glass coating and catalysis applications.
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- Vanadium Pentoxide
- Vanadium Oxalate
- Other (Contact Us)
For 100 year, niobium was also called columbium until it was officially named niobium in 1950, though some still refer to it as Columbium. Elemental Niobium is a lustrous, soft metal and is quite ductile. Niobium metal oxidizes in air at 200℃. The metal is superconductive and can be used in special magnetic applications. Niobium is used in advanced air-frame systems such as those used in the Gemini Space Program and other aerospace products. Niobium is also popular in alloys, stainless steels, and some nonferrous alloys because its presence enhances the strength of the material. Niobium pentoxide is also used in some glass, ceramic, and coating applications.
Forms Available
- Niobium Pentoxide
- Ammonium Niobium Oxalate
- Other (Contact Us)
Elemental tantalum is metallic, heavy, gray and very hard. At temperatures below 150oC tantalum is almost completely immune to chemical attacks. Only hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing the fluoride ion, and free sulfur trioxide affect the metal at these temperatures. Tantalum metal has found many uses in consumer and industrial markets, with the largest applications for tantalum in manufacturing capacitors. Tantalum's high melting point and superconductive properties have made it popular in many other metal applications including filaments, wires, acid-proof chemical equipment, and tantalum carbide. Several uses exist in the medical field as well as tantalum metal is nonirritating and immune to all body liquids. Special alloy and single-crystal tantalum is used in the construction of aircraft parts and strong, ductile steel. The ceramic industry has also found use for tantalum in dielectrics. Tantalum oxide is also used to manufacture special refractive glass for optical applications.
Forms Available
- Tantalum Pentoxide
- Tantalum Metal
- Other (Contact Us)
Cobalt is one of four elements that are ferromagnetic around room temperature. Cobalt metal is a hard, lustrous, silver-grey metal. While widely dispersed, it only makes up 0.001% of the Earth's crust. Cobalt compounds have been used for centuries to produce a blue color in paints, glazes, and ceramics and are still used for such applications today. Cobalt metal is primarily used in lithium-ion batteries and high-strength alloys.
Forms Available
- Cobalt Oxide
- Cobalt Hydroxide
- Cobalt Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Nickel, one of four elements that are ferromagnetic around room temperature, is a hard and ductile transition metal. It is highly resistant to corrosion and is often used to plate other metals to protect them. The primary use of elemental nickel is in making alloys such as stainless steel. Additionally, nickel compounds are used in producing magnets, rechargeable batteries, and as a glass colorant resulting in a green pigment.
Forms Available
- Nickel Oxide
- Nickel Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Elemental gallium is an extremely soft metal that is liquid at temperatures slightly higher than room temperature (29.76°C). Gallium has the longest liquid temperature range of any metal and low vapor pressure even at high temperatures. Gallium can be used to wet glass or porcelain and forms a brilliant mirror when applied to glass. Some low melting point alloys have gallium as a component. Because of its low vapor pressure and predictable thermal expansion, gallium can be used in high-temperature thermometers. Semiconductors are doped with gallium.
Forms Available
- Gallium Oxide
- Gallium Nitrate
- Other (Contact Us)
Germanium is commonly recovered from the flue dust of zinc smelters and the combustion of some coals. Elemental germanium is a brittle, crystalline metalloid that is relatively stable and will not oxidize in air. Modern techniques allow for the production of extremely pure germanium. Germanium has favorable conductive properties leading to its primary uses in the semiconductor industry and transistor manufacture. It is also used in high-sensitivity infrared devices because germanium and its oxide are transparent to infrared light. The oxide has a high refractive index and finds use in special glasses for camera and microscope lenses.
Forms Available
- Germanium Dioxide
- Other (Contact Us)
Copper is a highly ductile metal that is a great conductor of electricity and heat. Historically, it was the first metal to be worked by people. Copper is primarily used in electrical wires and motors.
Forms Available
- Copper Oxide
- Copper Nitrate
- Copper Acetate
- Other (Contact Us)
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