The wet preparation and dehydration of terbium fluoride salt for terbium metal processing

Abstract

Terbium fluoride hydrate (TbF₃.nH₂O) was prepared from the terbium chloride (TbCl₃) solution using ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO3) and hydrofluoric
acid (HF) as precipitate reagents. The dehydration of TbF ₃.nH₂O was carried out in a tube furnace in the presence of argon. The influential factors on the
production process have been studied. Thermal analysis techniques were applied to determine the temperature range for dehydration. The obtained TbF₃ products were assessed by X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy methods. The results showed that anhydrous TbF₃ with a particle size of 200-700 nm can be used as a material to prepare terbium metal.