Neodymium Wire - Material Information

Neodymium is a silvery-white, highly reactive rare-earth metal that belongs to the lanthanide series. Separated in 1885 by Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach, it is an essential material in both optical and magnetic technologies. In metallic wire form, neodymium offers high reactivity, good electrical conductivity, and the ability to alloy with other elements for specialized applications in optics, magnets, and energy systems. It oxidizes rapidly in air, forming an oxide layer (Nd?O?) that can flake off to expose fresh metal beneath, requiring careful handling under inert conditions.

Material Overview

Neodymium crystallizes in a double hexagonal close-packed (dhcp) structure at room temperature and transitions to body-centered cubic (bcc) under pressure (Han et al., 2024). This structural adaptability under varying thermodynamic conditions contributes to its versatility in high-performance materials. Its melting point is 1021 °C and density 7.01 g·cm?³. Optical-grade neodymium displays strong absorption bands in the visible and near-infrared range due to 4f–4f electronic transitions, particularly useful for laser and glass-doping applications. Thornton et al. (1969) demonstrated that Nd³? ions in crystalline and glass hosts produce efficient 1.06 ?m emission, forming the basis of solid-state lasers such as Nd:YAG and Nd:Glass. Jung et al. (2003) reported that Nd?O?-doped borosilicate glasses exhibit high dielectric constants and thermal stability, ideal for optoelectronic components. Swapna et al. (2023) further observed that increasing Nd³? ion concentration in tellurite–bismuth glass enhances optical transparency and radiation shielding properties, supporting its use in compact laser and energy devices.

Applications and Advantages

Neodymium wire and its alloys are essential in the production of high-energy permanent magnets (Nd?Fe??B), laser crystals, and precision optics. Due to its unique combination of optical emission and magnetic strength, neodymium finds applications in lasers, glass coloration, and magnetic sensors. Its compounds are widely used in protective eyewear for welders and in infrared-emitting materials. Neodymium’s strong reactivity with halides and oxides also makes it a valuable reducing agent in metallurgical synthesis. Murad et al. (2018) demonstrated efficient metallurgical extraction of Nd via pyro-metallurgical reduction using calcium in a fluoride salt environment, enabling high-purity production for advanced fabrication. The combination of reactivity, optical performance, and magnetic behavior makes neodymium indispensable in both scientific and industrial innovation.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies Neodymium (Nd) Wire in high-purity form for research and specialized manufacturing. Each wire is processed under inert or vacuum conditions to preserve metallic luster and prevent surface oxidation. Custom diameters and coil lengths are available upon request for use in laser engineering, electronics, and materials research.

Explore Neodymium (Nd) - Wire - Material Information and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Han, Y., Brugman, B. L., Leinbach, L. J., Guo, X., Leinenweber, K., & Navrotsky, A. (2024). Thermochemical properties of high-pressure neodymium monoxide. Inorganic Chemistry, 63(14), 3127–3138. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01511
• Thornton, J. R., Fountain, W. D., Flint, G. W., & Crow, T. G. (1969). Properties of neodymium laser materials. Applied Optics, 8(6), 1087–1095. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.8.001087
• Jung, B.-H., Lee, D.-K., Sohn, S. H., & Kim, H. (2003). Thermal, dielectric, and optical properties of neodymium borosilicate glasses for thick films. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 86(7), 1123–1130. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.2003.tb03448.x
• Swapna, K., Lakshmi, Y. A., Pravallika, C., Mahamuda, S., & Kotamraju, S. K. (2023). Investigation of radiation shielding and optical properties of neodymium-doped bismuth borotellurite glasses. Journal of Luminescence, 263, 120339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2023.120339
• Murad, A., Iqbal, A., & Ahmad, W. (2018). Preparation of neodymium metal by pyro-metallurgical process using fluoride salt. Key Engineering Materials, 778, 256–263. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.778.256