Yttrium Metal
element 39, MeSH ID: D015019, Yttrium, YTTRIUM AA SINGLE ELEMENT STANDARD
- CAS
- 7440-65-5
- EC
- 231-174-8
- Sectors
- Mining & Metals, Aerospace & Defense, Electronics & Solar PV, Automotive
Yttrium Metal (Y; MW 88.91 g/mol) is a silvery-white, odorless rare earth element of Group IIIB, commercially available as ingot, lump, chips, dendritic pieces, or sponge. It is insoluble in water and carries a density of 4.47 g/cm³ at room temperature. Typical commercial purity is expressed as Y₂O₃/TREO ≥ 99.5 % (2N5) to ≥ 99.99 % (4N), with oxygen content ≤ 0.3 %.
Its principal industrial function is as an alloying addition in magnesium and aluminium master alloys, where it improves high-temperature mechanical properties and oxidation resistance. It also serves as a sputter target feedstock and as a precursor for synthetic garnet and ferrite crystals used in electronics and photonics.
Yttrium Metal
Applications
- Mining & Metals: Alloying addition in Mg–Y and Al–Y master alloys, including WE43 magnesium alloy, and as a deoxidant and microalloying agent in superalloys and specialty steels.
- Aerospace & Defense: Incorporated into nickel-base superalloys to improve grain-boundary oxidation resistance and creep strength at elevated service temperatures.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Used as a high-purity feedstock for the synthesis of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) crystals for microwave and laser applications.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Processed into sputter targets for physical vapour deposition of yttrium-containing thin films in semiconductor and display manufacturing.
- Automotive: Added to heat-resistant alloy components and thermal-barrier coating systems requiring stable oxide-forming behaviour at high operating temperatures.
Safety & Risks
GHS Warning. H228 (powder: flammable solid), H250, H302, H312, H332, H371, H413. Store ingot and lump under dry, inert conditions away from ignition sources. Use gloves, safety glasses, and dust respirator when handling. Powder form is classified UN 3089 and is not supplied.
Packaging
Ingot, lump, and chips supplied in vacuum-sealed bags under argon, 1–25 kg lots. Small high-purity quantities available in 1–5 kg sealed units.