Scandium (Sc) Sputtering Targets

Scandium is a chemical element with symbol Sc and atomic number 21. A silvery-white metallic d-block element, it has historically been classified as a rare earth element, together with yttrium and the lanthanides. It was discovered in 1879 by spectral analysis of the minerals euxenite and gadolinite from Scandinavia. 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 will dissolve 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 crystal of metallic lustre. However the reduced one is broken irregular pieces. Scandium metal is available in form of powder, sheet, piece, foil, wire, 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 raw material for high-melting alloy, for example Al-Sc alloy. Mg-Sc alloy, Sc-Ti alloy, which can apply to space shuttle, rocket and other high-end purpose. Except these, scandium is additive for steel, tungsten and chromium alloy. The main application by volume is in aluminium-scandium alloys for the aerospace industry and for sports equipment (bikes, baseball bats, etc.) which rely on high performance materials. It has been shown to reduce solidification cracking during the welding of high strength aluminium alloys. Scandium play important role in third generation Illuminant that is scandium sodium lamp. It is a kind of metal halide lamp that fill with sodium iodide and scandium iodide and at same time scandium and sodium foil in lamp. Scandium can be found in houses in equipment such as colour televisions, fluorescent lamps, energy-saving lamps and glasses. Scandium metal is best barrier metal in metal-insulator-semiconductor silicon photocell and solar cell. The use of scandium is still growing, due to the fact that it is suited to produce catalysers and to polish glass.