Scandium Sputtering Targets (Sc)

Scandium is a chemical element with the symbol Sc and atomic number 21. A silvery-white metallic d-block element has historically been classified as a rare earth element, together with Yttrium and the Lanthanides. It was discovered in 1879 from Scandinavia by spectral analysis of the minerals euxenite and gadolinite. It develops a slightly yellowish or pinkish cast when exposed to air. Scandium tarnished in air and burn easily once it has been ignited. It reacts with water to form Hydrogen gas and dissolves in many acids.

 

Pure scandium is produced by heating Scandium Fluoride (ScF3) with Calcium metal. There are two different production methods for it, distillation method and reduction method. The distilled scandium get better quality than the reduced one. The distilled scandium is dendritic like a crystal of metallic luster. However, the reduced one is broken irregular pieces. Scandium metal is available in powder, sheet, piece, foil, wire, and sputtering target.

 

Scandium metal is light, but the melting point is much higher than Aluminum. It could replace Aluminum to make various aircraft. It is a raw material for high-melting alloy, for example, Al-Sc alloy. Mg-Sc alloy, Sc-Ti alloy. It can apply to a space shuttle, rocket, and other high-end purposes. Except these, scandium is additive for Steel, Tungsten, and Chromium alloy. The main application by volume is Aluminum-scandium alloys for the aerospace industry and sports equipment (bikes, baseball bats, etc.). Sports, that rely on high-performance materials. It has been shown to reduce solidification cracking during the welding of high strength Aluminum alloys. Scandium plays a vital role in third-generation Illuminant that is a Scandium Sodium lamp. It is a kind of metal halide lamp that fills with Sodium Iodide and Scandium Iodide and, simultaneously, Scandium and Sodium foil in the lights. Scandium can be found in houses in equipment such as color televisions, fluorescent lights, energy-saving lights, and glasses. Scandium metal is the best barrier metal in metal-insulator-semiconductor silicon photocell and solar cells. The use of scandium is still growing because it is suited to produce catalyzers and to polish glass.