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

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 TbF3.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.