6209. Misch Metal

Nomenclature

CAS number: 8049-20-5

Description and references

Alloy of mixed rare earth metals. Prepd by electrolysis of fused rare earth chlorides. Obtained from the lanthanide ore, bastnaesite. A typical composition is 48-50% cerium, 32-34% lanthanum, 13-14% neodymium, 4-5% praseodymium and 1.5% other rare earth metals. Average mol wt is 140. Uses in organic synthesis: M.-I. Lannou et al., Tetrahedron 59, 10551 (2003).

Properties

Pyrophoric powder. Store under argon.

Use

In the manuf of flints for gas and cigarette lighters. Coreductant or promoter in organic synthesis. In metallurgy: decreases microporosity and improves stress resistance, thermomalleability and heat exchange in refined steel.