Lanthanum Fluoride
LaF3, Lanthanumfluoride1, Lanthanumfluoride2
- CAS
- 13709-38-1
- EC
- 237-252-8
- Sectors
- Electronics & Solar PV, Mining & Metals, Lubricants & Metalworking
Lanthanum Fluoride (LaF₃; MW 195.9 g/mol) is an off-white powder belonging to the rare earth fluoride family. With a density of 5.94 g/cm³ and a melting point of 1 493 °C, it is insoluble in water but dissolves in concentrated mineral acids. Commercially available grades span 3N to 5N purity, quoted on a La₂O₃/TREO basis, with fluorine assay in the 28–29 % region and oxyfluoride (LaOF) content held below 0.2–0.5 % depending on grade.
LaF₃ is supplied in powder (−100 to −325 mesh), granule (1–3 mm), evaporation tablet, and sputter-target forms to serve optical thin-film deposition, fluoride glass manufacture, electrochemical sensing, and metallurgical processing. Electronic Grade material meets the tighter oxygen and particle-size tolerances required for vacuum coating and semiconductor applications.
Lanthanum Fluoride
Applications
- Electronics & Solar PV: Deposited by physical vapour deposition (PVD) or electron-beam evaporation as a low-absorption layer in UV–IR anti-reflection coatings on lenses, laser optics, and solar cell cover glass.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Used as a sputter target or evaporation tablet for the production of fluoride-based thin films in precision optical and semiconductor device fabrication.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Functions as the ion-exchange membrane material in fluoride ion-selective electrodes for analytical instrumentation and process monitoring.
- Mining & Metals: Serves as a flux component and lanthanum-bearing feedstock in molten-salt electrolytic reduction processes for the production of lanthanum metal and La-containing master alloys.
- Mining & Metals: Incorporated into ZBLAN and other heavy-metal fluoride glass compositions, where its high refractive index and wide infrared transmission window are required.
- Lubricants & Metalworking: Applied as a high-temperature solid lubricant and arc-electrode flux additive; its layered hexagonal crystal structure provides low shear resistance under elevated-temperature and high-load conditions.
Safety & Risks
GHS Warning. H302, H312, H315, H319, H332, H335, H413. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled; irritates skin and eyes. Use P2 or FFP2 dust respirator, chemical splash goggles, and nitrile gloves. Store dry, away from strong acids.
Packaging
1–5 kg sealed polyethylene bags for high-purity lots; 25 kg fibre drums for standard grades. Store in a cool, dry location.