Neodymium oxide

Neodymium oxide (CAS 1313-97-9), also known as neodymium(III) oxide, neodymia, or dineodymium trioxide (Nd₂O₃), is a pale-blue rare earth oxide; a key intermediary in advanced ceramics, electronics, metallurgy and catalysis.

Where is Neodymium oxide used?

• Ceramics and specialty glass: incorporated into glazes and frits at loadings of approximately 4–7 % to impart lavender-to-purple hues and the alexandrite (colour-shift) effect
• Art glass and optics: defining dopant in Murano-style "Alessandrite" art glass, glass decolourisation, and welding goggle lenses that filter infrared and sodium-flare wavelengths
• Electronics: dopant precursor for Nd:YAG and Nd:glass solid-state laser media, and additive in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) that modifies dielectric properties
• Metals and mining: primary feedstock for molten-salt electrolysis producing neodymium metal for NdFeB permanent magnet alloys used in motors and generators
• Rubber and elastomers: starting material for neodymium-based butadiene rubber (Nd-BR) catalyst systems, giving high-cis polybutadiene with narrow molecular weight distribution
• Exhaust aftertreatment: promoter in three-way catalyst formulations, contributing thermal stability and oxygen-storage enhancement
• It is registered under REACH in the 100–1,000 t/a tonnage band.

Good to know: Material absorbs CO₂ and moisture from air on standing. Buyers requiring specific Nd₂O₃/TREO ratios, controlled particle-size distributions, or customised packaging should contact SoleChem's technical sales team.

Commercial specifications

• Grades 2N to 5N, expressed as Nd₂O₃/TREO ≥ 99.0 % to ≥ 99.999 %
• TREO typically ≥ 99 %
• LOI ≤ 1–2 %; median particle size d50 3–7 µm
• Co-element oxide impurities (La₂O₃, CeO₂, Pr₆O₁₁, Sm₂O₃) each ≤ 0.02–0.03 %
• Packaging: 25 kg fibre drums for powder grades; 500–1,000 kg big bags for bulk; high-purity (4N–5N) lots in 1–5 kg sealed containers