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- About Us
Lutetium
Lutetium (Lu) is a dense, silvery-white rare earth element and the last member of the lanthanide series. It has a high melting point of 1663 °C and is known for its stability and hardness compared to other lanthanides. Lutetium is typically extracted from xenotime and monazite ores using solvent extraction and ion exchange methods.
Goodfellow's high-purity Lutetium products are designed to meet the exacting requirements of advanced research and industrial applications. Available in forms such as foil, powder, pellet, and disk, lutetium is valued for its exceptional density and unique optical properties. This rare earth metal exhibits the highest melting point among lanthanides and is known for its paramagnetic behavior. Lutetium finds critical applications in the medical industry, petroleum refining, and electronics manufacturing. It plays a vital role in positron emission tomography (PET) scans as a component of lutetium oxyorthosilicate scintillators, enhancing medical imaging capabilities. In the oil industry, lutetium is used as a catalyst for petroleum cracking, improving fuel production efficiency. Goodfellow's lutetium products support cutting-edge research in areas such as quantum computing and next-generation optical technologies. Their distinctive properties make them indispensable for scientists and engineers advancing materials science, particularly in applications requiring high-density materials and specialized optical characteristics.
Properties
Identifiers
Isotopes
Applications
Grades
Synonyms
General Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 71 |
| Density | 9.841 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1663 °C |
| Boiling Point | 3402 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 16.4 W/m·K |
| Electrical Resistivity | 91 nΩ·m |
| Crystal Structure | Hexagonal Close-Packed (HCP) |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | ~275 MPa |
| Yield Strength | Unknown / Not well defined |
| Young’s Modulus | 69 GPa |
| Hardness | Brinell ~890 |
| Elongation at Break | ~15% |
| Poisson’s Ratio | 0.26 |
Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Forms stable oxide layer in air |
| Reactivity | Reacts slowly with oxygen and water; stable in dry air |
| Oxidation States | +3 |
| Surface Oxide | Forms Lu₂O₃ in air |
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Lu |
| Atomic Number | 71 |
| CAS Number | 7439-94-3 |
| UN Number | UN3089 (powder) |
| EINECS Number | 231-103-0 |
| Isotope | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lu-175 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~97.41% |
| Lu-176 | Radioactive | Natural abundance: ~2.59%; used in geochronology |
Scientific Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| PET Scanners | Used in lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) for radiation detection |
| Medical Imaging | Integral in gamma-ray and X-ray scintillators |
| Laser Materials | Doped crystals used for solid-state laser applications |
| Nuclear Science | Used in neutron capture and decay process studies |
| Geological Dating | Lu-Hf isotope system applied in geochronology |
Industrial Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Catalyst Support | Acts as an efficient catalyst in polymerization and alkylation |
| Alloying Agent | Enhances strength and stability in high-performance alloys |
| Lighting Systems | Used in phosphors for LED and fluorescent lighting |
| Optical Equipment | Provides high-refractive index in specialty lenses |
| High-Temp Ceramics | Contributes to thermal-resistant ceramic materials |
| Purity | Applications | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 99% (2N) | Used in optical applications, industrial catalysts, and basic research | Standard grade suitable for general scientific and industrial use |
| 99.9% (3N) | Preferred in nuclear medicine, laser crystal growth, and scintillator development | High-purity grade for advanced technology and precision research |
| Synonym |
|---|
| Lu |
| Lu metal |
| Lu element |
| Lutetium metal |
| Lutetium element |
| Lutetium rare earth metal |
| Lutetium rare earth element |
| Element 71 |