Thermodynamic Aspects for Rare Earth Metal Production

Rare earth metals are one of the essential constituent of todays evolving green technologies materials. They are used in electric car, high performance magnet based miniatured devices, wind mills turbines, advanced sensors & machinery used in the space & nuclear energy sector, military nevigation devices, communications, information and transportation systems and many more. This book chapter discuss the basics of thermodynamical aspects for the extraction of rare earth metals from its oxides/minerals. Steps relating to thermodynamic feasibility of chemical reactions happening in the system under consideration using Gibbs free energy minimization tools. Thermodyamical steps involved in the processing of rare earth oxides/fluorides to produce rare earth metals by metallothermic reduction route are also stuided.