What is scandium used for?
By RareMetals.net Editorial Team · Updated
Scandium is used mainly to strengthen aluminum alloys for aerospace, defence and sports equipment, and in solid oxide fuel cells. Smaller amounts go into radio-frequency filters for phones, metal-halide lamps and 3D-printing powders. World use is only about 60 tons of scandium oxide a year (USGS).
Main uses of scandium at a glance
| Application | What scandium does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum-scandium alloys | A few tenths of a percent refines the grain and makes welds stronger | Aircraft and defence parts, bicycle frames, baseball bats |
| Solid oxide fuel cells | Scandia-stabilised zirconia carries oxygen ions at lower temperatures than standard zirconia | Stationary fuel cells for power and backup systems |
| Electronics | Scandium aluminum nitride films are strongly piezoelectric | Radio-frequency filters in phones and 5G equipment |
| Lighting | Scandium iodide adds a daylight-like spectrum | Metal-halide lamps for stadiums and film sets |
Aluminum-scandium alloys
Adding a few tenths of a percent of scandium to aluminum forms tiny Al₃Sc particles that refine the grain and stop it coarsening when the metal is heated. The result is a stronger alloy that can be welded without losing much of its strength, and that resists hot cracking at the weld.
Soviet designers used aluminum-scandium alloys in fighter aircraft, and Airbus’s Scalmalloy, an aluminum-magnesium-scandium powder, is used to 3D-print lightweight aircraft and racing parts. Consumer uses include bicycle frames, baseball and softball bats, lacrosse sticks and lightweight handgun frames.
Solid oxide fuel cells
Zirconia stabilised with scandium oxide (scandia-stabilised zirconia) conducts oxygen ions better than the more common yttria-stabilised zirconia, so fuel cells can run efficiently at lower temperatures. The USGS lists solid oxide fuel cells for large-scale and backup power as one of the two main uses of scandium in 2025.
Electronics
Thin films of scandium aluminum nitride are much more piezoelectric than plain aluminum nitride. They are used in bulk acoustic wave filters that separate radio frequencies in smartphones and 5G equipment, and in some gallium nitride transistors.
Lighting and other uses
Scandium iodide in metal-halide lamps produces light close to daylight, used for stadiums, film sets and street lighting. The radioactive isotope scandium-46 is used as a tracer in oil refineries, and scandium oxide is used in some high-temperature ceramics.
Products that contain scandium
- Aluminum bicycle frames and baseball bats
- Aircraft and racing parts made by 3D printing
- Radio-frequency filters in smartphones
- Stadium and film-set lighting
- Stationary fuel-cell power systems
Can scandium be replaced?
Titanium and other high-strength aluminum alloys, or carbon fibre, can replace aluminum-scandium alloys in most structural uses. There is no direct substitute in scandium aluminum nitride films or scandia-stabilised zirconia (USGS).
Scandium uses FAQ
What is scandium used for in everyday life?
Mostly in sporting goods such as aluminum bicycle frames and baseball bats, in the radio-frequency filters inside smartphones, and in metal-halide stadium lights.
Why is scandium used in aircraft?
Small additions make aluminum stronger and weldable without heavy rivets, which can save weight. Its high price has limited it to specialised parts.
How much scandium is used each year?
About 60 tons of scandium oxide worldwide in 2025, according to the USGS, against production of about 80 tons.