ASPECTS OF THE PURIFICATION OF VOLATILE RARE-EARTH-METALS BY UHV SUBLIMATION - SM, EU, TM, YB

Purification of rare earth metals with high vapor pressure below melti ng point (Sm, Eu, Tm, Yb) have been carried out by high and ultra-high vacuum sublimation and distillation, using direct sublimation, sublim ation with a porous solid W filter and novel promising liquid metal th rough distillation (LMTD). Using the last two methods, high purity RE metals with RRR of about 300 were obtained. Aspects of experimental se tup and conditions and its influence on behavior and redistribution of impurities are analysed and future perspective of methods are discuss ed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.