Solid state electrotransport purification of dysprosium

Abstract

Solid state electrotransport has been used to refine polycrystalline dysprosium metal to a purity of 99.96 at.%, which is believed to be the highest purity ever reported for this metal. The relatively high vapour pressure of dysprosium at solid state electrotransport processing temperatures necessitated the use of an inert gas environment, as well as lower than ideal processing temperatures or reduced processing times, to restrict volatilization losses. The comparative advantages of high temperature, short-time versus low temperature, long-time electrotransport programmes were investigated.