Introduction and production process of scandium oxide Sc2O3

Overview of Scandium Oxide Sc2O3 Powder

The chemical formula of scandium oxide is Sc2O3. Properties: white solid. It has a cubic structure of rare earth sesquioxide. The density is 3.864. The melting point is 2403℃±20℃. Insoluble in water, soluble in hot acid. It is made by thermal decomposition of scandium salt. It can be used as an evaporation material for semiconductor coating. Make variable-wavelength solid-state lasers, high-definition TV electron guns, metal halide lamps, etc.

Scandium oxide (Sc2O3) is one of the more important products in scandium products. Its physical and chemical properties are similar to rare earth oxides (such as La2O3, Y2O3 and Lu2O3, etc.), so the production methods used in production are very similar. Sc2O3 can generate metal scandium (Sc), products of different salts (ScCl3, ScF3, ScI3, Sc2(C2O4)3, etc.) and a variety of scandium alloys (Al-Sc, Al-Zr-Sc series). These scandium products have practical technical value and good economic effects. Because Sc2O3 has some characteristics, it has been used in aluminum alloys, electric light sources, lasers, catalysts, activators, ceramics and aerospace, etc., and its development prospects are very broad.

In the 1970s, China began to develop Sc2O3 products, and kilogram-level products entered the market. In the 1980s, China's Sc2O3 production reached a climax, with the output reaching the level of 100 kilograms or more, and it was mainly exported to Japan and the United States. Since the 1990s, Russia has produced a large number of Sc2O3 products and sold them to the international market at low prices, which has severely impacted the production of scandium oxide in China, causing the production of Sc2O3 to be in a trough, and many production lines have been discontinued, making China's production capacity and output in a state of shrinking. However, in recent years, the development of Sc-Al alloy and electric light source materials in China has promoted the development of Sc2O3 industrial production. China's scandium resources are very rich. According to reports, the current industrial reserves of scandium in the world are about 2 million tons, and China has about 600,000 to 650,000 tons, accounting for about 30% of the total content.

Scandium oxide production process

After years of research and production practice in world production technology and equipment, the current technology for extracting Sc2O3 from raw materials containing scandium has the following methods:

① Extraction method. It is used more in production, and it has the characteristics of large output, good quality, high recovery rate, low cost and continuous operation in production.

② Ion exchange method. It is also often used in production. It has the characteristics of small output, high purity, low yield, high cost and long production cycle.

③ Extraction resin chromatography. It has the characteristics of short production cycle, high purity, high yield and low cost.

④ Liquid membrane extraction method. It is a new type of separation technology that combines membrane separation and liquid-liquid extraction. But there is no production practice yet. Someone used an emulsion liquid membrane to extract Sc from 60mg/L, and the Sc can be enriched to 1400mg/L after primary extraction. Judging from the extraction of Sc2O3 in China for many years, almost the first two process technologies (extraction method and ion exchange method) are mainly used.

Extraction method

(1) The process of producing scandium oxide from scandium concentrate by extraction method: dissolve the scandium concentrate with hydrochloric acid to obtain a ScCl3 solution, and then purify and remove impurities such as ferro-titanium. The purification liquid is used as a raw material. Use 50% tributyl phosphate (TBP) and kerosene to make the extractant. The prepared material liquid and extractant are put into the extraction tank to extract scandium, after pickling and distilled water back extracting scandium, the pure scandium-containing liquid (ScCl3 liquid) is obtained and then precipitated with oxalic acid, dried and burned to obtain pure Sc2O3 product . The main process is: scandium concentrate-acid solution-purification-TBP extraction of scandium-pickling-reverse extraction of scandium-oxalic acid precipitation-drying-burning-packaging-storage (pure Sc2O3 products).

Main equipment: acid solution tank, extraction tank, precipitation tank, burning furnace and packaging machine, etc.

Ion exchange method

Process: Use waste tungsten residue (including Sc2O 378g/t～377g/t) as raw material. It is dissolved in hydrochloric acid and filtered, and the material liquid is purified to remove impurities, to obtain the ScCl3 clean liquid for preparation and use as the material liquid for ion exchange. Prepare the adsorption column and separation column for later use. The material liquid (ScCl3 liquid) flows into the adsorption column from the upper end of the column and reaches the saturation of Sc3+ for use. After the adsorption column and the separation column are connected in series, the eluent flows from the top of the adsorption column and flows through the separation column. After the last separation column steadily flows out of the ScCl3 solution, the ScCl3 solution (pure ScCl3 solution) can be continuously received. In the collecting container, after adjusting the acidity, it is precipitated with oxalic acid, filtered, dried and burned into a pure Sc2O3 product. The main process is: tungsten waste residue-acid solution-purification-adsorption column-leaching-receiving ScCl3 solution-acid adjustment-precipitation of scandium-drying-burning-packaging-storage (pure Sc2O3 products).

Main equipment: acid dissolving tank, adsorption column, separation column, sedimentation tank, burning electric furnace and packaging machine, etc.

Extraction resin chromatography

Process: Dissolve chlorinated fumes with HCl and purify and remove impurities to make ScCl3 feed liquid. Use 50% TBP-kerosene extractant to extract scandium in the extraction tank, pickling impurities, back-extracting scandium to obtain a pure Sc-Cl3 solution, then precipitate Sc with H2C2O4, and then burn to obtain pure Sc2O3. The main process is: oxidation fume-dissolution with hydrochloric acid-purification-pure ScCl3 liquid-extraction-pickling-back extraction-precipitation-burning-packaging-warehousing (pure Sc2O3 products).

Liquid membrane extraction

Use titanium dioxide waste liquid (containing Sc2O325g/m3) as raw material. In the sulfuric acid medium system using P204-kerosene as the extractant, the scandium is extracted from the feed liquid in the extraction tank, and after pickling with H2SO4 and H2O2 to remove impurities, the scandium is back-extracted with NaOH liquid to make Sc(OH)3 enriched material , Hydrochloric acid dissolves Sc(OH)3 into ScCl3 solution, oxalic acid precipitates scandium (twice) and burns, and the package is pure Sc2O3 product. The main process is: Titanium Dioxide Waste Liquid-Blending-Extraction-Pickling-Back Extraction-Sc(OH)3 Product-Dissolution-Precipitation-Burning-Packaging-Storage (Pure Sc2O3 Product).

Application of Scandium Oxide Sc2O3 Powder

Due to the unique physical and chemical properties of Sc2O3 products, since the 1980s, it has obtained better application development in many high-tech and industrial sectors. At present, the application status of Sc2O3 in alloys, electric light sources, catalysts, activators and ceramics in China and the world is described later.

Application in alloys

At present, the aluminum-scandium alloy (Al-Sc) made of scandium and aluminum has low density (Sc is 3.0g/cm3, Al is 2.7g/cm3, high strength, high hardness, good plasticity, corrosion resistance and thermal stability. Strong and other advantages, therefore, better applications in the structural parts of missiles, aerospace, aviation, automobiles and ships, etc., and gradually turn to civilian use, such as sports devices (hockey and baseball handles), computer and mobile phone cases, etc. It has the characteristics of high strength, high rigidity and light weight, which is of great practical value.

Scandium in the alloy mainly plays the role of modifying and refining the grain, so that the new phase of Al3Sc type is formed and presents the characteristics of excellent performance. Al-Sc alloys have formed a series of alloy series. For example, Russia has reached 17 Al-Sc series, and China also has several alloys (such as Al-Mg-Sc-Zr and Al-Zn-Mg-Sc alloys). The characteristics of this type of alloy cannot be replaced by other materials, so from the perspective of development, its application development and potential are great, and it is expected to become a major application in the future. For example, Russia has been industrialized and used for light structural parts to develop rapidly, and China is also accelerating the development and application, especially in aerospace and aviation.

Application in new electric light source materials

The pure Sc2O3 is converted into ScI3 and then combined with NaI to make a new type of third-generation electric light source material, and processed into a scandium-sodium halogen lamp for lighting (each lamp uses about 0.1mg-10mg of Sc2O3≥99% material. This is the case. Under the action of high-voltage electricity, the scandium spectrum is blue and the sodium spectrum is yellow. The two colors cooperate to produce light close to sunlight, which makes the light have high luminosity, good light color, energy saving, and longevity. Long and strong fog breaking power and other advantages.

Application in laser materials

Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG) can be made into Gadolinium Gallium Scandium Garnet (GGSG) by adding pure Sc2O3≥99.9% to Gd3Sc2Ga3O12. The third-generation laser made of it has an emission power that is 3.0 times higher than that of a laser with the same volume. It has reached a high-power and miniaturized laser device, increased the output power of the laser oscillation, and improved the performance of the laser. When preparing single crystals, each charge is 3kg～5kg, adding Sc2O3≥99.9% raw material is about 1.0kg. At present, the application of this kind of laser in military technology is becoming more and more extensive, and it is gradually being promoted to the civilian industry. From the perspective of development, there will be greater potential for military and civilian use in the future.

Application in electronic materials

Pure Sc2O3 can be used as an oxidizing cathode activator for the cathode electron gun of a color television picture tube, and the effect is better. Spray a layer of Ba, Sr, and Ca oxide layer with a thickness of one millimeter on the upper end of the cathode of the color tube, and then diffuse a layer of Sc2O3 with a thickness of 0.1 millimeter on it. In the oxide layer cathode, Mg, Sr and Ba react to promote the reduction of Ba. The released electrons are more active and emit large current electrons to make the phosphor emit light. Compared with the cathode without Sc2O3 coating, the current density can be increased by 4 times. The TV picture is clearer, and the life of the cathode is increased by 3 times. The amount of Sc2O3 used for each 21-inch developing cathode is 0.1 mg. At present, this cathode has been used in some countries in the world, such as Japan, which can improve market competitiveness and promote TV sales.

Scandium oxide Sc2O3 powder price

The price of scandium oxide Sc2O3 powder will vary randomly with the production cost, transportation cost, international situation, exchange rate and the demand of market supply and demand. Tanki New Materials Co., Ltd. aims to help various industries and chemical wholesalers find high-quality, low-cost nanomaterials and chemicals by providing a full set of customized services. If you are looking for scandium oxide Sc2O3 powder, please feel free to send it to get the latest scandium oxide Sc2O3 powder price.

Scandium Oxide Sc2O3 Powder Supplier

As a global supplier of scandium oxide Sc2O3 powder, Tanki New Materials Co., Ltd. has extensive experience in the performance, application and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced technology and engineering materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (including oxides, carbides, nitrides, single metals, etc.), high-purity targets, functional ceramics, structural devices, and provides OEM services.