Dysprosium
The heat shield of the magnet world — no dysprosium, no EV traction motor.
Dysprosium is the most strategically watched heavy rare earth. Added at a few percent to NdFeB magnets, it preserves magnetic performance at the 150–200°C operating temperatures inside EV motors and wind turbine generators — a role with no commercial substitute at scale. Western magnet supply chains live or die on dysprosium access, yet production remains overwhelmingly concentrated in Chinese-processed ionic clay feedstock. Dysprosium regularly tops critical mineral risk rankings by the US, EU, and Japan.
Uses
- Dysprosium additions to neodymium-based permanent magnets help them resist demagnetisation at higher temperatures.
- Dysprosium compounds are used in metal-halide lamps.
- Its neutron absorption supports specialist nuclear control-rod applications.
Key Facts
- Atomic number
- 66
- Flagship use
- High-temp magnet additive
- Substitutes
- None commercial at scale
- Risk ranking
- Top of US/EU/Japan lists
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Isotope reference
Isotopes & Nuclear Properties
Natural dysprosium contains seven isotopes, all listed as stable in the cited evaluation. Dy-164 is the most abundant.
| Isotope | Natural abundance | Half-life / status |
|---|---|---|
| ¹⁵⁶Dy | 0.056(3)% | Stable |
| ¹⁵⁸Dy | 0.095(3)% | Stable |
| ¹⁶⁰Dy | 2.329(18)% | Stable |
| ¹⁶¹Dy | 18.889(42)% | Stable |
| ¹⁶²Dy | 25.475(36)% | Stable |
| ¹⁶³Dy | 24.896(42)% | Stable |
| ¹⁶⁴Dy | 28.260(54)% | Stable |
CIAAW amount-fraction uncertainties are shown in parentheses where reported. “Stable” means no radioactive half-life is assigned in this table.
Abundances are CIAAW amount fractions converted to percentages for normal terrestrial material; parentheses give uncertainty in the final digits. “Stable” means no decay is established in the cited evaluation, not that all decay modes are impossible. Natural abundance and nuclear stability do not establish chemical safety; enriched or activated material needs separate assessment.