This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of scandium and yttrium, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Scandium vs Yttrium.
Scandium and Yttrium – About Elements
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Scandium and Yttrium – Applications
Scandium
The main application of scandium by weight is in aluminium-scandium alloys for minor aerospace industry components. These alloys contain between 0.1% and 0.5% of scandium. Sc drastically improves Al alloys, increasing strength, corrosion resistance and weldability.
Yttrium
The most important uses of yttrium are LEDs and phosphors, particularly the red phosphors in television set cathode ray tube displays. Yttrium is also used in the production of electrodes, electrolytes, electronic filters, lasers, superconductors, various medical applications, and tracing various materials to enhance their properties. Small amounts of yttrium (0.1 to 0.2%) have been used to reduce the grain sizes of chromium, molybdenum, titanium, and zirconium. Yttrium is used to increase the strength of aluminium and magnesium alloys.
Scandium and Yttrium – Comparison in Table
| Element | Scandium | Yttrium |
| Density | 2.985 g/cm3 | 4.472 g/cm3 |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 200 MPa | 115 MPa |
| Yield Strength | N/A | 50 MPa |
| Young’s Modulus of Elasticity | 74.4 GPa | 63.5 GPa |
| Mohs Scale | N/A | N/A |
| Brinell Hardness | 740 – 1200 MPa | 580 MPa |
| Vickers Hardness | N/A | N/A |
| Melting Point | 1541 °C | 1526 °C |
| Boiling Point | 2830 °C | 2930 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 15.8 W/mK | 17.2 W/mK |
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 10.2 µm/mK | 10.6 µm/mK |
| Specific Heat | 0.6 J/g K | 0.3 J/g K |
| Heat of Fusion | 14.1 kJ/mol | 11.4 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 314.2 kJ/mol | 363 kJ/mol |
