Praseodymium Oxide
Hexapraseodymium undecaoxide, hexapraseodymiumundecaoxide, Praseodymium undecaoxide
- CAS
- 12037-29-5
- EC
- 234-857-9
- Sectors
- Building & Construction, Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers, Electronics & Solar PV, Mining & Metals
Praseodymium Oxide (Pr₆O₁₁; MW 1021.44 g/mol) is a dark green to dark brown or black powder belonging to the rare earth oxides group. It is the commercially dominant praseodymium compound, characterised by a mixed trivalent/tetravalent oxidation state, a melting point of 2 500 °C, a density of 6.5 g/mL, and negligible water solubility. It is commercially available at Pr₆O₁₁/TREO ≥ 99 % up to 99.99 %, with TREO ≥ 99 % as the standard trade basis.
Its primary industrial functions span ceramic pigmentation, glass colouring, rare-earth permanent-magnet alloying, and heterogeneous catalytic oxidation. The compound's thermal stability and redox activity make it suitable across high-temperature processing environments in ceramics, metallurgy, electronics, and coatings manufacture.
Praseodymium Oxide
Applications
- Building & Construction: Used as a precursor for praseodymium-zircon yellow pigments incorporated into ceramic tiles, sanitaryware glazes, and architectural porcelain bodies requiring stable, high-temperature colouration.
- Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers: Incorporated into inorganic pigment dispersions and specialty coatings where heat-stable green or yellow hues and UV interaction are required.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Serves as a dopant and functional oxide in dielectric ceramics, phosphor matrices, and thin-film deposition processes for electronic components.
- Mining & Metals: Blended with neodymium oxide as a Pr-Nd mixed rare earth feedstock for the production of NdFeB permanent magnets used in motors and generators.
- Building & Construction: Added to specialty glass batches as a green colourant and as a component of didymium glass formulations used in heat-absorbing and optical filter applications.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Applied as a catalyst support or active phase for CO oxidation reactions in exhaust and emissions-control systems operating at elevated temperatures.
Safety & Risks
Not classified as hazardous under GHS. Handle as a fine inorganic powder: avoid dust generation, ensure adequate ventilation, and use an N95 respirator, safety glasses, and gloves during weighing and transfer. Store in sealed containers away from moisture.
Packaging
25 kg fibre drums or poly-lined bags; 500–1 000 kg big bags for bulk orders; 1–5 kg sealed containers for high-purity lots. Store dry.