Praseodymium-Neodymium Fluoride

Rare Earth Fluorides

Praseodymium - Neodymium Fluoride, chemically represented as (Pr,Nd)F₃ (a solid solution of praseodymium(III) fluoride (PrF₃) and neodymium(III) fluoride (NdF₃) in variable molar ratios, typically with Nd content ranging from 70%–90% and Pr content from 10%–30%), is a critical mixed rare - earth fluoride compound. Distinguished by its dual rare - earth composition and stable +3 oxidation state for both Pr and Nd ions, it combines the unique optical, magnetic, and thermal properties of PrF₃ and NdF₃—setting it apart from single - rare - earth fluorides like LaF₃ (low magnetic activity) or CeF₄ (variable oxidation state). Unlike soluble rare - earth salts (e.g., praseodymium nitrate, neodymium chloride), (Pr,Nd)F₃ exhibits extremely low aqueous solubility and high chemical inertness, making it ideal for applications requiring long - term stability in harsh environments (e.g., high temperatures, corrosive atmospheres). With base purities ranging from 99% (industrial grade) to 99.999% (ultra - high purity), and strict control over Pr/Nd ratio (±1% variation for high - precision grades), it is widely used in rare - earth permanent magnets, optical glass, metallurgy, and advanced material synthesis.

Commercially, Praseodymium - Neodymium Fluoride is categorized by Pr/Nd molar ratio, purity, particle size, and crystal structure (hexagonal, the dominant stable phase). Industrial Grade (Pr/Nd ratio 1:9–3:7, purity 99.0%–99.5%, particle size 100–200 mesh) prioritizes cost - efficiency for bulk industrial uses like raw material for rare - earth metal production (via molten salt electrolysis), flux in aluminum alloy casting (reducing oxide inclusions), and additive in ceramic glazes (imparting pink - purple hues). Reagent Grade (Pr/Nd ratio 1.5:8.5–2.5:7.5, purity ≥99.9%, particle size 200–300 mesh) meets laboratory standards for material science research (studying mixed rare - earth fluoride phase behavior), small - scale optical glass doping, and magnetic property testing. High - Purity Grade (Pr/Nd ratio 1.8:8.2–2.2:7.8, purity ≥99.99%, particle size 200–300 mesh, ultrafine powder) targets high - performance magnets and optics, including precursors for NdFeB magnet sintering (improving magnetic coercivity) and dopants for high - refractive - index optical glass (enhancing near - infrared absorption). Ultra - High Purity Grade (Pr/Nd ratio 2:8, fixed for precision applications, purity ≥99.999%, particle size 300–400 mesh, nanoscale powder) is a niche grade for semiconductor - compatible rare - earth films and quantum dot matrices, with trace impurity levels strictly controlled (e.g.,<5 ppb heavy metals, <3 ppb O/C/N, <1 ppb other rare earths like La/Ce/Sm) to avoid performance defects. At standard temperature and pressure, (Pr,Nd)F₃ appears as a pale pink to lavender crystalline powder or hexagonal platelets—its characteristic color (a blend of Pr³⁺’s pale green and Nd³⁺’s pink hues) simplifies visual identification, while purity and Pr/Nd ratio are verified via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP - MS) for elemental analysis and X - ray diffraction (XRD) for crystal structure confirmation.

Physically, Praseodymium - Neodymium Fluoride exhibits traits tailored to its mixed composition and application requirements. It has a variable molecular weight (304.2–308.1 g/mol, depending on Pr/Nd ratio) and a bulk density of ~6.2–6.4 g/cm³ (higher than LaF₃’s 5.93 g/cm³ due to Pr/Nd’s higher atomic mass). A defining physical property is its extremely low aqueous solubility (~0.00002 g/100 mL at 20°C), even lower than NdF₃ (~0.00003 g/100 mL), ensuring no ion leaching in aquatic environments. It is soluble only in concentrated hydrofluoric acid (HF) via complexation (forming [PrF₆]³⁻ and [NdF₆]³⁻ ions), a property leveraged in semiconductor etching processes. Thermal stability is exceptional: it melts at 1420–1450°C (lower than LaF₃’s 1493°C, enabling easier molten processing) and boils at 2300–2350°C, with no decomposition below melting point—critical for high - temperature metallurgical applications. It exhibits minimal hygroscopicity (<0.05% moisture absorption at 60% humidity), preventing caking and ensuring consistent Pr/Nd ratio during storage. Optically, it has a broad absorption spectrum in the near - infrared (NIR) range (700–1100 nm), attributed to Nd³⁺’s ⁴F₃/₂→⁴I₁₁/₂ and ⁴F₃/₂→⁴I₉/₂ transitions, and weak absorption in the visible range (400–600 nm) from Pr³⁺—making it suitable for NIR - filtering optical components. Magnetically, it exhibits paramagnetic behavior at room temperature (magnetic susceptibility ~1.2×10⁻⁴ emu/g·Oe, higher than LaF₃’s diamagnetism), a precursor to the strong ferromagnetism of NdFeB magnets when alloyed with iron and boron.

Chemically, Praseodymium - Neodymium Fluoride’s defining feature is the synergy of Pr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions in a fluorite - type crystal lattice. As a mixed trivalent rare - earth fluoride, it is resistant to attack by most acids (except concentrated HF) and bases, with no reaction with oxygen, carbon dioxide, or water at room temperature—ensuring stability in atmospheric and industrial environments. Unlike CeF₄ (prone to reduction to Ce³⁺), both Pr and Nd remain in the +3 oxidation state under all normal processing conditions, avoiding oxidation - reduction - induced property changes. It forms stable solid solutions with other rare - earth fluorides (e.g., LaF₃, GdF₃) over a wide composition range, enabling tailored adjustment of melting point, refractive index, and magnetic susceptibility. When heated with rare - earth metals (e.g., Nd, Pr) and transition metals (e.g., Fe), it undergoes carbothermal reduction - fluorination reactions to form (Pr,Nd) - Fe - B alloys—the core material of high - performance permanent magnets. It exhibits no redox reactivity under standard conditions, and its fluoride ions are tightly bound in the crystal lattice (lattice energy ~980 kJ/mol), preventing fluoride release even at high temperatures (up to 1200°C).

The industrial production of Praseodymium - Neodymium Fluoride primarily uses mixed praseodymium - neodymium oxides (Pr₆O₁₁/Nd₂O₃, with predefined Pr/Nd ratio) via fluoride precipitation or direct fluorination. The process involves five core steps. First, raw material purification: Mixed Pr - Nd oxide (purity ≥99.0%, Pr/Nd ratio as target) is dissolved in dilute nitric acid (HNO₃, 30% concentration) at 60–80°C to form a (Pr,Nd)(NO₃)₃ solution. Solvent extraction (using 2 - ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono - 2 - ethylhexyl ester, P507) is then performed to remove impurities (e.g., La, Ce, Sm, heavy metals like Fe/Cu/Pb) to ppb levels, and to fine - tune the Pr/Nd ratio to within ±0.5% of the target. Second, fluoride precipitation: The purified (Pr,Nd)(NO₃)₃ solution is slowly added to a stirred ammonium fluoride (NH₄F, 25% concentration) solution at 40–60°C (pH 3.5–4.5), with a molar ratio of (Pr³⁺ + Nd³⁺) to F⁻ of 1:3. The reaction proceeds as: (Pr,Nd)(NO₃)₃ + 3NH₄F → (Pr,Nd)F₃↓ + 3NH₄NO₃. The addition rate (5–10 mL/min) is controlled to avoid amorphous precipitation and ensure uniform particle growth. Third, aging: The resulting slurry is aged at 70–90°C for 6–8 hours to promote hexagonal crystal formation and improve filterability—critical for reducing residual salt content. Fourth, separation and washing: The precipitated (Pr,Nd)F₃ is separated via vacuum filtration (using PTFE membranes) and washed repeatedly with deionized water (18 MΩ·cm) until the rinse water conductivity is<10 μS/cm (to remove NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ ions). For high - purity grades, an additional washing step with dilute HF (0.5% concentration) is used to dissolve trace oxide impurities. Fifth, drying and finishing: The wet cake is dried at 150–200°C for 4–6 hours to remove surface moisture, then calcined at 800–1000°C under inert nitrogen atmosphere for 2–3 hours to enhance crystal density and remove residual organic contaminants. Industrial Grade is crushed and screened to 100–200 mesh, while High - Purity Grade is micronized to 200–300 mesh; Ultra - High Purity Grade undergoes nanosizing via jet milling (particle size 50–100 nm) and is packaged in nitrogen - filled containers.

Praseodymium - Neodymium Fluoride’s applications are driven by its mixed rare - earth properties and high stability. In rare - earth permanent magnets, High - Purity Grade (Pr/Nd 2:8) is a key precursor for sintered NdFeB magnets: it is mixed with iron powder and boron powder, then sintered at 1050–1150°C. The Pr doping (10%–20%) improves the magnet’s coercivity (HcJ) by 15%–25% compared to pure NdFeB, making it suitable for high - temperature applications like electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators. In optical glass, Reagent Grade (Pr/Nd 1.5:8.5) is a dopant for borosilicate glass: it imparts selective absorption in the 800–1000 nm NIR range, used in laser protection goggles and optical filters for fiber optic communication systems. The Pr³⁺ ions also enhance the glass’s UV resistance, extending its service life in outdoor applications. In metallurgy, Industrial Grade (Pr/Nd 3:7) is used as a flux in rare - earth metal electrolysis: mixed with LiF and CaF₂, it lowers the melting point of the electrolyte from 1050°C to 850–900°C, reducing energy consumption by 20%–30% in the production of mixed Pr - Nd metals. In advanced ceramics, Ultra - High Purity Grade nanoscale (Pr,Nd)F₃ is a additive for zirconia ceramics: it forms a solid solution with ZrO₂, improving the ceramic’s fracture toughness (from 3.5 MPa·m¹/² to 5.0–5.5 MPa·m¹/²) and thermal shock resistance, used in high - temperature structural components for aerospace engines. Additionally, it is used in laboratory research as a model system for studying mixed rare - earth solid solutions and as a reference material for calibrating Pr/Nd ratio analysis equipment.

Safety - wise, Praseodymium - Neodymium Fluoride has low acute toxicity but requires careful handling due to its fluoride content and fine - powder nature. Industrial - grade powder generates respirable dust: inhalation may cause mild respiratory irritation (e.g., coughing, nasal dryness), so operators must wear N95 dust masks, nitrile gloves, and safety goggles during handling. Skin contact with wet powder may cause mild irritation due to trace fluoride ion release; prolonged contact should be avoided, and affected areas rinsed with water for 10–15 minutes. It is non - flammable, and thermal decomposition occurs only above its melting point (1420°C), releasing non - toxic fluoride - containing gases (e.g., PrF₃ vapor, NdF₃ vapor)—high - temperature processes require proper ventilation (local exhaust systems) to prevent vapor accumulation. Storage should be in a cool (15–25°C), dry (<60% 3="" 5="" 7="" area="" in="" sealed="" hdpe="" or="" ptfe="" containers="" to="" prevent="" moisture="" absorption="" and="" contamination.="" it="" should="" be="" separated="" from="" strong="" acids="" especially="" reducing="" agents="" metal="" avoid="" unwanted="" reactions.="" when="" stored="" industrial="" grade="" has="" a="" shelf="" life="" of="" reagent="" ultra="" -="" high="" purity="" years="" due="" stricter="" impurity="" control="" .="" expired="" products="" may="" show="" changes="" nd="" ratio="" detected="" via="" icp="" increased="" content="">0.1%, detected via TGA), or reduced magnetic activity (for magnet precursors), and should be retested before use.

Descriptive:  WNX employs advanced automated production technology and uses high-quality raw materials to produce high-quality Praseodymium-Neodymium Fluoride.

Key Features:

High Purity:Praseodymium-Neodymium Fluoride contains no impurities from rare earth elements (such as iron, calcium, sodium), and the impurity content is low.

Good Solubility:Praseodymium-Neodymium Fluoride can dissolve rapidly in water and strong acids.

Consistency: The strict batch management in the production ofPraseodymium-Neodymium Fluoride ensures stable quality for industrial large-scale production.

Chemical industry catalyst: Fluorinated praseodymium-nickel is a key raw material for preparing rare earth metals and alloys. Metallic praseodymium-nickel is produced through oxide electrolysis and calcium thermal reduction methods. These metals are further used to manufacture petroleum catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, enhancing the efficiency of fuel production. Its fluoride form is also used as an additive to improve the performance of steel and non-ferrous metal alloys.

Pond Phosphate Remover: Due to its chemical properties, fluorinated praseodymium-nickel can effectively remove phosphate from water bodies through precipitation, which is helpful in addressing the problem of water eutrophication.

Batteries and energy materials: Fluorinated praseodymium-neodymium is an important precursor for the production of metallic neodymium, and metallic neodymium is used to manufacture high-performance neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets. These magnets are core components of wind turbines, electric vehicle drive motors, and electronic devices, and are crucial in the field of clean energy.

Functional material precursor: As an important optical material precursor, fluorinated praseodymium-neodymium is used to prepare gain media for efficient solid-state lasers and fiber lasers. It is also a key raw material for optical coatings, rare-earth crystal laser materials (used in medical, scientific research and industrial lasers) and infrared glass, which can enhance the light transmission and wear resistance of the materials.

1.Neutral labels/packaging (jumbo bag of 1.000kg each net),Two bags per pallet.

2.Vacuum-sealed, then wrapped in air cushion bags, and finally packed into iron drums.

Drum: Steel drums (open-top, 45L capacity, dimensions: φ365mm × 460mm / inner diameter × outer height).

Weight per Drum: 50 kg

Palletization: 18 drums per pallet (total 900 kg/pallet).

Transport Class: Maritime transportation / Air transportation

Custom packaging available upon request