Rare earth elements are used to produce anode materials for nickel-metal hydride (“NiMH”) batteries. NiMH batteries are used in hybrid electric vehicles, consumer electronics, cordless shavers, cordless powertools, baby monitors and other applications of rechargeable batteries.
Catalysts
Rare earth elements, such as cerium and lanthanum, are used in catalytic converters of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, as well as fuel cracking catalysts and additives used by oil refiners to break down crude oil into lighter distillates, such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene and more.
Ceramics, Pigments and Glazes
Rare earth elements are used to produce decorative ceramics, functional ceramics, structural ceramics, bio ceramics and many other types of ceramics used in everything from jet engine coatings to ceramic cutting tools, dental crowns, ceramic capacitors, ceramic tiles, and more.
Glass Polishing Powders and Additives
Rare earth elements, such as cerium, are used to polish optical glass, hard disk drive platters, LCD display screens and gemstones, among a long list of applications. Cerium is also used as an additive in UV-filtering glass and container glass, whereas lanthanum, yttrium and gadolinium are used to produce high quality optical glass used in camera lenses, microscopes and telescopes.
Metallurgy and Alloys
Rare earth mischmetal (a mixture of light REE metals) is used during production of some types of steel, as well as ductile iron making. Rare earth elements are also used to produce a variety of different alloys, such as ferro-cerium, ferro-holmium, ferro-gadolinium, ferro- dysprosium and a growing list of others.
Permanent Magnets
Rare earth elements are used to produce high-strength permanent magnets that have enabled the production of ubiquitous gadgets and electronics, such as mobile phones and laptops, as well as power dense energy-efficient electric motors and generators used in electric vehicles, wind power generators, energy efficient appliances and hundreds of other applications.
Phosphors
Rare earth elements are used in phosphors for energy efficient lamps, display screens and avionics, and are added to fiat currency in some nations as an anti-counterfeit measure.
Other
Aside from the above described end uses and categories, rare earth elements are used in a long list of other end uses and applications, including many in defense, medicine, agriculture, high-tech and chemical industries.
