Praseodimium - Material Information

Praseodymium (Pr) is a rare-earth metal belonging to the lanthanide series, recognized for its silvery-white appearance, softness, and high reactivity. Discovered in 1885 by Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach, praseodymium plays a critical role in advanced alloys and optical materials where thermal stability, magnetism, and hardness are required.

Material Overview

Praseodymium exhibits a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal structure at ambient conditions and transitions to a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure under pressure. It has a melting point of 931 °C, a density of 6.77 g/cm³, and good thermal conductivity (~13 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹). Magnetically, praseodymium is paramagnetic at room temperature but can display complex magnetic ordering at cryogenic temperatures (Bleaney, 1963). When alloyed with elements such as iron and boron, it forms Pr–Fe–B compounds—key components in high-performance permanent magnets with excellent low-temperature stability (Kablov et al., 2014). Its 4f-electron configuration contributes to high magnetic moments and strong crystal field effects, making it useful in magneto-optical and cryogenic applications.

Applications and Advantages

Industrial applications of praseodymium include its use as an alloying element in Pr–Nd–Fe–B permanent magnets, which offer high coercivity and improved thermal stability compared to Nd–Fe–B alone (Chang & Huang, 2004). These magnets are critical in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and precision sensors. Praseodymium oxide (Pr?O??) is used as a colorant in glass and ceramics, imparting a characteristic yellow-green hue and UV absorption properties. Additionally, praseodymium’s role in enhancing the crystallization and magnetic properties of metallic glasses (Hadjipanayis et al., 1982) demonstrates its versatility across electronics, catalysis, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow offers high-purity praseodymium metal and alloy forms for research and industrial applications requiring superior magnetic and optical performance. Materials can be supplied in customized dimensions and quantities suited for laboratory or pilot-scale use. Discover praseodymium and related lanthanides through the Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Bleaney, B. (1963). The magnetic properties of praseodymium metal. Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 275(1360), 34–49. https://doi.org/10.1098/RSPA.1963.0191
• Kablov, E. N., Piskorskii, V. P., Valeev, R. A., & Buzenkov, A. V. (2014). Effect of praseodymium on the temperature stability of the properties of Nd–Dy–Fe–Co–B magnets. Russian Metallurgy, 2014(11), 870–875. https://doi.org/10.1134/S003602951411010X
• Chang, W., & Huang, H. (2004). Magnetic materials containing praseodymium. Patent Publication.
• Hadjipanayis, G. C., Wollins, S. H., Hazelton, R. C., Lawless, K. R., Prestipino, R., & Sellmyer, D. J. (1982). Magnetic and crystallization studies of splat-cooled praseodymium–gallium–iron alloys. Journal of Applied Physics, 53(11), 8390–8396. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.330204
• Carey, R., Newman, D. M., Snelling, J. P., & Thomas, B. W. J. (1993). The magnetic and magneto-optical properties of amorphous (TbFeCo)Pr films. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 123(1–2), 79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-8853(93)90877-5