Scandium is a rare metallic element discovered in Scandinavia in 1869. It is a silvery metal that develops a slight yellow or pink tint when exposed to air. Scandium is mainly used to strengthen aluminum alloys for aerospace components and sports equipment through increasing alloy strength and improving weld quality. It provides the highest increment of strengthening per atomic percent of any alloying element added to aluminum.

2.  Scandium is Latin for Scandinavia,
where it was first discovered in
1869
 Scandium is a rare, hard, silvery,
rough, very dark metallic element
that develops a slightly yellowish
or pinkish tint when exposed to air
 First prepared in its metallic form
in 1937
Physical properties
Phase solid
Density (near r.t.) 2.985 g·cm−3
Liquid density at m.p. 2.80 g·cm−3
Melting point
1814 K
(1541 °C, 2806 °F)
Boiling point
3109 K
(2836 °C, 5136 °F)
Heat of fusion 14.1 kJ·mol−1
Heat of vaporization 332.7 kJ·mol−1
Specific heat capacity (25 °C) 25.52 J·mol−1
·K−1
Young's modulus 74.4 GPa
Shear modulus 29.1 GPa
Bulk modulus 56.6 GPa
Poisson ratio 0.279
Brinell hardness 750 MPa
CAS registry number 7440-20-2

3.  Mainly used in aluminum
alloys for
• Aerospace components
• Sports equipment (bikes,
golf clubs, bats, firearms)
 Also used in high
intensity lights
• Scandium Iodide added to
mercury vapor lamps for
TV cameras
• Some types of light bulbs
scandium provides the highest increment of strengthening per atomic
percent of any alloying element when added to aluminum..
Night Guard™ Features
• Strong, Lightweight Scandium Alloy
Frames

4.  Titanium is similar in weight and
strength and is much more common
(cheaper) than scandium.
 When added to aluminum,
scandium lowers the rate of
recrystallization and grain-growth
in weld heat-affected zones.
 Scandium does increase an
aluminum alloy strength somewhat,
but is primarily added for the
benefit of stronger welds.
• Scandium-aluminum alloys originally
used on Russian submarine-launched
ballistic missiles
• Made strong missile nose cones and
strong tail fin welds enabling missiles to
pierce arctic ice caps when launched
from below the surface