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Cerium Oxide

Cerium OXide Glass Melting Grade

Applications

Eliminates Unwanted Color:

It is used to de-colorize glass. The glass is initially colored by the metal contaminates in the raw materials used to produce glass. Iron oxide is a moderately strong colorant in glass and as little as 0.01 % can be visually detected. The ferrous component provides a blue-greenish tinge with nearly ten times as strong a discoloring power as the brown-yellow of the ferric ion. Cerium oxidizes these metals and eliminates unwanted color.

Yellow-colorizer for Glass:

When used in glass compositions (at low weight percentages) along with comparable amounts of titanium oxide, cerium oxide produces a deep yellow coloration.

Cerium Compounds are used in thin surface coatings applied to optical components and monitor screens to improve performance. Cerium Oxide is used as protective coating on metals.

Ultra-Violet Absorption:

Most damage caused by light to exposed materials is due to u.v. radiation. The mechanism of photodegradation is complex and depends on material composition, impurities present etc.

Cerium provides strong UV absorption. The ability of cerium-doped glass to block damaging u.v. radiation has applications in several areas, e.g. medical glassware and display case glass windows.

Cerium is used, for example, to provide pigments with light fastness and to prevent clear polymers from darkening in sunlight.

Radiation-Resistant Glass:

Television glass screens are subjected to electron bombardment by high energy electrons, particularly with the high tube voltages needed for color displays. Overtime discoloration or browning of glass is lowered by the addition nearly 1 % of cerium oxide. A similar suppression of gamma-ray induced discoloration is also possible and cerium-containing glasses are used in the construction of viewing windows.

Photo-sensitive Glass:

This type of glass contains cerium and, on exposure to strong light, develops a latent image that can be latterly converted into a permanent structural or color change. The cerium ions absorb ultra-violet radiation and release electrons into the glass matrix. Highly detailed patterns can be produced that are not only decorative but also can help create masks, spacers and the like for electronic uses.