Holmium

Holmium (Ho) is a soft, malleable, silvery rare earth element belonging to the lanthanide series. It has a melting point of 1472 °C and is known for its exceptional magnetic properties and ability to absorb neutrons. Holmium is primarily extracted from monazite and bastnäsite ores, often in conjunction with other rare earth elements, and is separated using ion exchange and solvent extraction techniques.

Goodfellow's pure Holmium products are designed to meet the exacting needs of advanced research and industrial applications. Available in forms such as foil, powder, rod, and disk, holmium is valued for its exceptional magnetic properties and high neutron absorption capacity. This rare earth metal exhibits one of the highest magnetic moments of any naturally occurring element and becomes ferromagnetic at temperatures below 19 K. Holmium finds critical applications in nuclear technology, medical lasers, and glass manufacturing industries. It plays a vital role in holmium-doped YAG lasers used for precise medical procedures such as kidney stone removal and glaucoma treatment. In nuclear reactors, holmium is used in control rods, contributing to safety and efficiency. Goodfellow's holmium products support cutting-edge research in quantum computing, where single holmium atoms show potential for storing quantum bits. Their unique properties make them indispensable for scientists and engineers advancing materials science, particularly in applications requiring strong magnetic fields and specialized optical characteristics.