Cerium-magnesium alloys are used in aircraft industry because of their high strength. Cerium dopants increase heat-resistance and durability of chromium alloys. This element is a very good gas absorber and may be effectively used in vacuum technique: being added to the vacuum apparatus before creating high vacuum, cerium binds residual molecules strengthening the air exhaustion (gettering).
Cerium dioxide is a coloured glass component; it is also used as a glass polishing abrasive and as catalyst in mixture with other rare earths oxides.
Cerium tetrafluoride is a very energetic oxidizer; it reacts at high temperatures with most of organic compounds, even with fluoroplastics; it is also used as a fluoration agent in organic synthesis. |