Synthesis of Rare-Earth Intermetallics by Induction Melting

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Materials containing rare-earth elements are found in many technological applications, such as neodymium-containing magnets in computers, lanthanum-containing batteries in hybrid cars, and europium-containing phosphors in flat panel displays. But there is a crisis at hand, because the supply of these elements is dominated overwhelmingly by China (97%). To reduce this vulnerability, Canada has an opportunity to develop its substantial rare-earth mineral resources by finding new applications so that their extraction becomes more economically viable. We wish to discover intermetallic compounds of these rare-earth elements, targeting new superconductors and magnetic materials. To determine the structures and properties of these compounds, it is important to obtain high-quality crystals and pure samples, which is not always easy when prepared by conventional techniques. To overcome these difficulties, we propose the use of induction heating, which operates through the same principle used in modern induction stoves for cooking: an object gets hot, not through heat transfer, but through an alternating current induced in it. Because this heating is highly uniform, contactless, and controllable, the quality of the intermetallic samples prepared is much improved. An induction furnace is an essential piece of equipment in any solid-state chemistry lab researching intermetallic compounds. Students trained to use this furnace will then receive the proper training that will be valuable for pursuing careers requiring expertise in the chemistry and metallurgy of rare-earth elements.