Scandium oxide
Sc₂O₃The main traded scandium compound and a feedstock for alloys, ceramics, and solid oxide fuel-cell materials.
Sc21
Scandium
The aerospace lightweighter that has never had a real market — yet.
Classified as a rare earth by IUPAC; grouped commercially with the heavies.
Scandium is a rare earth in chemistry but an outlier in commerce: global consumption is measured in tens of tonnes per year, mostly as scandium oxide. Added in fractions of a percent to aluminum, it produces alloys that are stronger, more weldable, and more corrosion-resistant — properties prized in aerospace and additive manufacturing. Supply has historically been a byproduct trickle from uranium, titanium, and nickel processing, which has kept prices high and volumes too small for mass adoption.
Uses
- Aerospace alloys
- Solid oxide fuel cells for large-scale power and critical-infrastructure backup
- Smaller uses in electronics, military alloys, and sporting goods
Key Facts
- Atomic number
- 21
- 2025 consumption
- ~60 t oxideSource: USGS MCS 2026
- Primary supply
- Byproduct (Ni, Ti, U streams)
- Key constraint
- No large-scale primary mines
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Isotope reference
Isotopes & Nuclear Properties
Naturally occurring scandium is monoisotopic: CIAAW lists scandium-45 as its only naturally occurring isotope.
| Isotope | Natural abundance | Half-life / status |
|---|---|---|
| ⁴⁵Sc | 100% | Stable |
CIAAW amount-fraction uncertainties are shown in parentheses where reported. “Stable” means no radioactive half-life is assigned in this table.
Natural abundance describes normal terrestrial scandium. It is not a chemical-safety assessment for a scandium compound or product.
Pricing & Market Trends
Market Context
$640/kgdown trend
Scandium oxide, 99.99% powder, 5–100 kg lots, ex-works China • As of 2025 estimate
The USGS-reported range of average values declined from $890–1,000/kg in 2021 to $640/kg in 2025.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (February 2026)
Key Drivers
- Byproduct-constrained supply
- Aerospace/SOFC demand
- Producer and export concentration
Common Scandium Compounds
Scandium sulfate
Sc₂(SO₄)₃A soluble precursor used to prepare other scandium compounds and in materials and catalysis research.
Scandium nitrate
Sc(NO₃)₃A soluble precursor used to produce scandium oxide and develop specialty ceramics and catalysts.
Direct Answers
Scandium questions, answered
What is scandium used for?
Principal uses include aerospace alloys and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). It is added to aluminum to produce alloys that are stronger, more weldable, and highly corrosion-resistant.
Where is scandium found and produced?
Scandium resources occur in many countries but rarely in economic concentrations. Current production is exclusively as a byproduct, mainly from nickel and titanium process streams and tailings, with China the leading producer in 2025.
How much does scandium cost?
The USGS reported a 2025 estimated average value of $640/kg for 99.99% scandium oxide powder in 5–100 kg lots, ex-works China. This is historical context, not a live market quote.