Rareearth elements periodic table

Strategic metals are the founding stones of modern industry. Their classification is based on their scarcity and supply. Unlike metals such as steel or aluminum, they are unevenly distributed on the surface of the globe and therefore potentially subject to supply risks. They can be precious or semi-precious.

Rare earths are called this because their extraction is very complex. However, contrary to what one might think, they are relatively abundant elements in the earth's crust.

Rareearth elements

Unlike rare-earths and rare-metals, bars of strategic raw materials (Copper / Lead / Zinc) or investment jewels are suitable for storage and resale. They allow the value of capital to be conserved over time. In fact, savings invested in strategic commodities are protected from inflation as well as financial and political crises.

Conversely, heavy rare-earths are more complex and more expensive to extract. They are used in technological products with higher added value. Their properties make these minerals critical for our companies, especially those that improve the performance of magnets.

Rare materialsnames

Rareearth elements list

They are also used in the composition of super-magnets present in wind turbine turbines and photovoltaic panels. There are two categories of rare-earth: light rare-earths and heavy rare-earths.

What arerareearth metals used for

Our entry in the industrial age has led to an increase in the use of metals to fuel the development of the industry and infrastructure. However, since these metals only available in limited quantities, their extraction and commercialization today have considerable geopolitical stakes.

Thin film polarizers working at 45° angle of incidence. Ideal choice for use as polarizing beamsplitter or beam combiner.

Rare materialslist

EKSMA Optics uses cookies to give you the best shopping experience. If you continue to use our services, we will assume that you agree to the use of such cookies.

Rare materialsin the world

EKSMA Optics uses cookies to give you the best shopping experience. If you continue to use our services, we will assume that you agree to the use of such cookies.

Whyrareearth metals are calledrare

Material UV FS Surface quality 20-10 scratch & dig (MIL-PRF-13830B) Transmitted wavefront distortion λ/10 @ 633 nm Parallelism < 30 arcsec Clear aperture > 90% Angle of incidence 45° Angle of incidence Tolerance ±1° Diameter tolerance +0.0 -0.12 mm Thickness tolerance ±0.2 mm Laser damage threshold 10 J/cm2, 10 nsec pulse at 1064 nm typical, 50 Hz Extinction ratio Tp/Ts >200:1 (for standard series) >1000:1 (for HE series)

We cannot establish an exhaustive list of these ores since it  depends on the scarcity factors taken into consideration: the quantity of metal available in the earth's crust, the level of demand, the industrial uses or even the recyclability potential. Rare-earths (22) are rare-metals.

Generally, the distinction is made by the atomic number: the higher the number, the heavier the element. Concentration explains the fact that light rare-earths are produced in higher quantities because they are more abundant in the deposits.

Thin film polarizers separate or combine the s- and p-polarization components at 45° angle of incidence. They are designed for use in high energy lasers. Polarizers are made from UV FS and feature high laser damage threshold reaching 10 J/cm2 at 1064 nm.

They can be found in the manufacture of electronic components, in computers and smartphones but also in the batteries of electric vehicles (to name a few examples ...) These rare-earths are an integral part of the new industrial revolution of green energies.

The rare earth family is made up of 17 metals. These minerals have exceptional properties. They are ubiquitous in the advanced industry and new technologies.

Since the dawn of the first civilizations, these materials are found in the form of jewels and ingots. These strategic metals have enabled the development of trade by constituting valuable reserves essential for the development of trade and the conservation of savings over time.