Scandium

Scandium is a silvery-white; moderately soft metal belonging to Group 3 of the periodic table. It's historically classified as a rare-earth element; though it's actually the 32nd most abundant element on Earth; far exceeding the abundance of gold. However; its dispersed nature in the Earth's crust makes extraction challenging; leading to high costs and limited availability.

Key Features and Properties

Scandium's key features include:

• High melting point: 1541 °C (2806 °F)
• Corrosion resistance: It's fairly stable in air; though it will slowly oxidize
• Low density: Makes it suitable for lightweight alloys
• Paramagnetic: Exhibits paramagnetism from 0 K to its melting point
• Superconducting: Becomes superconducting at −273.1 °C (−459.6 °F) under high pressure

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Excellent properties for alloying; enhancing strength; heat tolerance; weldability; and corrosion resistance in aluminum alloys
• Crucial component in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs); enabling lower operating temperatures and improved efficiency
• Use in high-intensity lamps; producing light mimicking natural sunlight
• Applications in 3D printing; magnets; and lasers

Cons:

• High cost: The price of 99.999% pure scandium metal is around $500;000/kg; sometimes reaching $580;000/kg. This high cost limits widespread adoption.
• Limited availability: Scarcity of high-grade deposits and difficulties in extraction make it a relatively rare material
• Supply chain challenges: Most production is as a byproduct of other metal refining; creating supply chain vulnerabilities

Pricing and Market

The price of scandium is highly variable and depends on purity and market demand. The global scandium metal market size was valued at USD 0.07 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 0.08 billion in 2024 to USD 0.2 billion by 2032; with a CAGR of 11.8%. The majority of scandium production is concentrated in China; Russia; and other countries such as Kazakhstan and the Philippines.

Recent Developments

In February 2025; Russian aluminum producer Rusal announced plans to set up a 1.5 tonne-a-year production facility for scandium; with the capacity to increase to 19 metric tonnes a year. This development could significantly impact the global supply of scandium.

Future Plans and Best Fit

Several companies and governments are investing in scandium exploration and production to address the supply shortage and unlock its potential. Scandium Canada; for example; is advancing the commercialization of its innovative Al-Sc alloy powders for 3D printing; aiming to establish partnerships to generate revenue.

Scandium is best suited for applications requiring a combination of high strength; lightweight properties; corrosion resistance; and high heat tolerance. This makes it particularly valuable in aerospace; defense; and high-performance sporting goods; where aluminum-scandium alloys are currently used. The growing solid oxide fuel cell market and advancements in 3D printing technology are also significant drivers of future scandium demand.

Product Categories

• transition metal
• rare earth element
• critical material

Product Features

• Lightweight nature
• High melting point
• Versatility in oxidation states
• Paramagnetic properties
• Limited natural abundance
• Alloying agent for aluminum
• Component in solid oxide fuel cells
• 3D printing applications

Available Deployment Type(s)

• Not applicable - Scandium is a chemical element (atomic number 21)
• not a product with deployment types. It's a rare earth metal used in various alloys and applications
• but doesn't have deployment configurations in the traditional sense.

Available Pricing Model(s)

• Varies widely based on form
• purity
• and quantity
• Global market projected to reach USD 0.2 billion by 2032
• Price for 99.999% pure scandium metal can reach up to $580
• 000/kg