Study on the Preparation Method of Rare Earth Fluorides

The most common application of rare earth fluorides is the raw materials for preparing rare earth metals and alloys by calcium thermal reduction and molten salt electrolysis. For example, in the process of preparing lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium-neodymium and dysprosium-iron alloys by molten salt electrolysis, lanthanum fluoride, cerium fluoride, praseodymium-neodymium fluoride and dysprosium fluoride are important components of molten salt. In the process of preparing medium and heavy rare earth metals such as yttrium, terbium and dysprosium by calcium thermal reduction, yttrium fluoride, terbium fluoride and dysprosium fluoride are one of the indispensable raw materials.

In addition, rare earth fluorides are widely used in new materials such as fluoride optical fibers, infrared antireflection film materials, luminescent materials, lubricants, etc. due to their unique optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. In view of the urgent demand for ultra-high purity rare earth fluorides in high-power laser optical fibers, laser crystals, optical coatings, etc., the development of new methods for the preparation of ultra-high purity rare earth fluorides is an important direction that cannot be ignored at present and in the next few years.

At present, the preparation process of rare earth fluorides is mainly divided into two types, wet fluorination process and dry fluorination process. The former mainly uses rare earth carbonates, chlorides, nitrates, etc. and hydrofluoric acid or ammonium fluoride as raw materials to obtain rare earth fluorides. Its advantages are simple equipment and low cost, but the impurity content of the obtained product is high and it is difficult to filter. The latter mainly uses rare earth oxides or carbonates and hydrogen fluoride gas or ammonium bifluoride as raw materials to obtain rare earth fluorides. Among them, the product obtained by the hydrogen fluoride gas method is of high quality, but the reaction temperature is high, there is a risk of gas leakage, and it is difficult to handle the excess hydrogen fluoride tail gas. The ammonium bifluoride method has a relatively low risk factor because the reaction temperature required is low, but the residual ammonium fluoride in the product will affect the later use, and it is difficult to recycle and reuse ammonium fluoride.

Suzhou KP Chemical Co., Ltd can provide rare earth fluorides such as Lanthanum Fluoride, Cerium(III) Fluoride, Praseodymium Fluoride, Neodymium Fluoride，Europium Fluoride, Gadolinium Fluoride, Terbium Fluoride, Dysprosium Fluoride, Holmium Fluoride, Erbium Fluoride, Thulium Fluoride, Ytterbium Fluoride, Yttrium Fluoride and Scandium Fluoride. Please contact info@szkpchem.com or 086-18915544907.