Lanthanum Oxide (La₂O₃) – High Purity Rare Earth Oxide for Optical Glass & Catalyst
Product Overview
Lanthanum Oxide, also known as Lanthanum(III) Oxide, is a high-value and widely applied rare earth oxide with the chemical formula La₂O₃. It appears as white amorphous fine powder with high chemical activity, excellent optical performance and stable thermal properties. As one of the most fundamental light rare earth oxides, Lanthanum Oxide features high refractive index, strong basicity and outstanding sintering activity. It is highly hygroscopic and easily absorbs carbon dioxide and moisture in the air. Widely used in optical glass manufacturing, FCC catalysts, advanced ceramics, electronic materials and metallurgical modification, it is an indispensable core functional material in the global fine chemical and high-end optical industries.
Basic Product Information
CAS Number: 1312-81-8 Molecular Formula: La₂O₃ Molecular Weight: 325.81 Appearance: White Odorless Fine Powder Density: 6.51 g/cm³ Melting Point: 2315°C Boiling Point: 4200°C Purity Grades: 99%, 99.9%, 99.99% (4N), 99.999% (5N) High Purity Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, easily soluble in dilute inorganic acids Core Features: High optical refractive index, strong catalytic activity, excellent sintering performance, high temperature resistance, hygroscopic and carbon-absorbing properties
Production Features
Our high-purity Lanthanum Oxide is produced through advanced rare earth extraction, precise purification, high-temperature calcination and ultrafine grinding processes. The product features uniform particle size distribution, ultra-low trace metal and heterogeneous rare earth impurities, high powder looseness and stable batch consistency. Strict multi-stage quality control is implemented during production to effectively control impurity residues and avoid agglomeration. The finished product meets high-standard requirements for optical glass formulation, industrial catalyst modification and precision ceramic manufacturing.
Core Physical and Chemical Properties
Optical and Structural Properties
Lanthanum Oxide has superior optical performance with a high and uniform refractive index and extremely low light dispersion. When added into optical glass and optical fiber materials, it can significantly improve glass transparency, optical uniformity and imaging accuracy, while reducing chromatic aberration and light loss. With a super high melting point and stable crystal structure, it maintains excellent structural stability under high-temperature sintering and extreme working environments, effectively improving the high-temperature resistance and structural strength of composite materials.
Chemical and Functional Properties
Chemically, Lanthanum Oxide shows strong basicity and high chemical activity. It can slowly react with water to form lanthanum hydroxide and readily absorb carbon dioxide from the air to generate carbonate compounds. It dissolves rapidly in dilute nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and other inorganic acids, providing stable lanthanum ion sources for downstream synthesis of various lanthanum salts. In catalytic systems, La₂O₃ can effectively improve structural stability and reaction activity of catalyst carriers, enhance anti-coking performance and catalytic efficiency, showing unique functional advantages in petrochemical and environmental catalysis fields.
Main Industrial Applications
Application Scope
High-purity Lanthanum Oxide is a versatile rare earth functional material, widely covering optical industry, petrochemical catalysis, advanced ceramics, electronic components and metallurgical manufacturing fields. Its core application scenarios are as follows:
1. Optical Glass & Optical Fiber Materials
Lanthanum Oxide is a key additive for high-refraction and low-dispersion optical glass. It is widely used in the production of precision optical lenses, microscope lenses, camera lenses and optical fiber devices. By doping La₂O₃, the optical glass obtains higher refractive index, lower dispersion coefficient and better light transmittance, effectively improving imaging clarity and optical device accuracy. It is an essential material for high-end optical instrument manufacturing.
2. Petrochemical FCC Catalyst Additive
As a classic rare earth catalytic modifier, Lanthanum Oxide is extensively applied in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts for petroleum refining. It can stabilize zeolite molecular sieve structures, improve thermal and hydrothermal stability of catalysts, inhibit carbon deposition, and significantly increase the yield of gasoline and light olefins. It effectively enhances catalytic efficiency and service life, playing a vital role in petrochemical refining and energy optimization.
3. Advanced Ceramic & Electronic Materials
La₂O₃ serves as an important sintering aid and performance modifier for dielectric ceramics, piezoelectric ceramics and multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC). It can reduce ceramic sintering temperature, improve material compactness, dielectric stability and mechanical toughness, and optimize the electrical performance of electronic ceramic components. It is widely used in precision electronic devices, sensor components and high-temperature resistant ceramic parts.
4. Rare Earth Salt Precursor & Chemical Raw Materials
Lanthanum Oxide is the core precursor for preparing various lanthanum derivatives, including lanthanum chloride, lanthanum nitrate, lanthanum carbonate and lanthanum phosphate. With high reaction activity and high conversion purity, it supports the customized synthesis of high-purity rare earth chemicals, luminescent materials and rare earth catalyst carriers, meeting the raw material demands of fine chemical and new material industries.
5. Metallurgical Alloy Modifier
In the metallurgical industry, Lanthanum Oxide is used as a grain refiner and corrosion-resistant modifier for steel, aluminum, magnesium and copper alloys. It can refine metal grain structure, purify internal impurities, and significantly improve alloy strength, high-temperature oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance. It is widely used in high-precision mechanical manufacturing, aerospace and automotive material upgrading.
Technical Reference Data
The following technical parameters are tested under standard laboratory conditions (25°C, 1 atm), providing accurate data support for product selection, formula design and industrial production verification:
- Bulk Density: 0.8–1.2 g/cm³
- True Density: 6.4–6.55 g/cm³
- D50 Particle Size: 1–10 μm (Customizable Ultrafine/Nano Grade)
- Loss on Ignition (LOI): ≤1.0%
- Moisture Content: ≤0.1%
- Total Rare Earth Purity: 99.9%–99.999%
- Insoluble Substance in Acid: ≤0.01%
- Refractive Index: 1.90–1.95 (Visible Light Band)
Product Advantages
- Excellent Optical Performance: High refractive index and low dispersion, stable optical properties, ideal for high-end optical glass and precision optical component manufacturing.
- High Catalytic Activity: Unique rare earth modification effect, effectively improving catalyst stability and anti-coking ability, suitable for large-scale petrochemical catalysis.
- Ultra-High Purity & Low Impurity: Multi-stage purification process, strictly controlled trace impurities, uniform particle size and stable batch performance.
- Strong Sintering Activity: Significantly reduce ceramic sintering temperature, improve material compactness and mechanical properties, excellent ceramic modification effect.
- Customized Service Support: Support customized purity, particle size and powder morphology, with complete technical documents and global after-sales service.
Packaging & Storage Instructions
Standard Packaging: Vacuum moisture-proof aluminum foil bag (1kg/bag), sealed anti-pressure iron drum (25kg/drum); customized packaging specifications are available on request. Storage Conditions: Store in dry, cool, ventilated and dust-free warehouse. The product is highly hygroscopic and carbon-absorbing, must be kept tightly sealed at all times to avoid contact with humid air and carbon dioxide. Keep away from strong acids and oxidants to prevent chemical deterioration and ensure long-term stable performance.
Conclusion
Product Summary
Lanthanum Oxide (La₂O₃) is a foundational and high-value light rare earth oxide material. Relying on its superior optical performance, excellent catalytic modification ability and stable sintering activity, it occupies an irreplaceable core position in optical glass manufacturing, petrochemical catalysis, advanced ceramics and metallurgical modification industries. We supply high-quality Lanthanum Oxide products with stable global supply capacity, strict quality control and competitive pricing, providing standardized and customized rare earth material solutions for industrial manufacturers and scientific research institutions worldwide.
TDS
United States
