CeO2
CeO2 (ceria) is a rare-earth oxide used both as a fine-polishing abrasive and as a functional or structural ceramic for oxygen storage, solid-electrolyte doping and zirconia stabilisation; stock conditions include 99.9-SINT, POLISH-99, NANO and GDC10 gadolinia-doped ceria.
Reference datasheet — CeO2 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the 99.9-SINT condition
CeO2 tempers and conditions
CeO2 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. 99.9-SINT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
99.9-SINTDefault 99.9 % CeO2 | Choose for dense structural/functional ceria parts: crucibles, sputtering targets, catalyst supports and oxygen-storage components. | 600 HV | 12 W/m·K | |||
Polishing powder grade | Choose for glass, panel, optics and wafer CMP polishing slurries where chemical-mechanical removal rate matters more than mechanical strength. | 600 HV | 11 W/m·K | |||
Nanopowder | Choose for catalysis, oxygen-storage washcoats, UV-blocking additives and fine CMP slurries needing very high specific surface area. | 650 HV | 6 W/m·K | |||
10 mol % Gd-doped ceria (Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95) electrolyte grade | Choose for intermediate-temperature SOFC electrolytes/barrier layers where high oxygen-ion conductivity at 500–700 °C is required. | 650 HV | 3 W/m·K |
What is CeO2?
CeO2 (ceria) is a rare-earth oxide used both as a fine-polishing abrasive and as a functional or structural ceramic for oxygen storage, solid-electrolyte doping and zirconia stabilisation; stock conditions include 99.9-SINT, POLISH-99, NANO and GDC10 gadolinia-doped ceria. Sintered bodies run 7.15 g/cm³ density, 180 GPa elastic modulus, 12 W/m·K thermal conductivity and service to 1700 °C, with a corrosion resistance score of 80. Toughness is low and machinability is rated 8, so edges chip readily and fired parts need diamond work. Yttria-stabilised zirconia is the usual alternative where mechanical toughness outweighs the oxygen-exchange behaviour. CeO2 has a density of 7.15 g/cm³ (0.258 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,400°C (4,352 °F). The elastic modulus is 180 GPa (26.1 Msi).
What is CeO2 used for?
- glass/wafer CMP polishing
- solid oxide fuel cell components
- catalytic supports
- UV-blocking coatings
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,700°C (3,092 °F), better than 90% of ceramic grades
CeO2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for CeO2-99.9-SINT; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical4
CeO2 has a density of 7.15 g/cm³ (0.258 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,400°C (4,352 °F).
Mechanical10
The elastic modulus is 180 GPa (26.1 Msi).
Thermal5
CeO2 is rated for continuous service to 1,700°C (3,092 °F). It conducts heat at 12 W/m·K (6.93 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 58% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 10 µm/m·K (5.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
CeO2 has an electrical resistivity of 100,000 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), better than 56% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of CeO2 takes about 220 MJ of energy and emits 16 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
CeO2's machinability is not recommended (8/100, better than 69% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations2
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. CeO2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with CeO2
Is CeO2 easy to machine?
Machine green or bisque-fired bodies with carbide tooling; after sintering only diamond grinding/lapping is practical and chipping at edges is common due to low toughness.
Can CeO2 be welded?
Not weldable — join by ceramic–metal brazing (Ag-Cu-Ti active braze) or glass sealing; CTE ~10–12 µm/m·K matches many ferritic stainless steels.
Can CeO2 be formed, bent or molded?
Uniaxial or isostatic pressing, tape casting and screen printing of submicron powder, then pressureless sintering at 1400–1650 °C; keep the firing atmosphere oxidising to avoid CeO2-x expansion cracking.
CeO2 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cestoichiometric CeO2, Ce as Ce(IV) | 80.5 – 81.5 | 81.41 |
| other rare earth oxides (La, Pr, Nd)typical residual in 99.5–99.9 % technical grades | 0 – 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Fe2O3 + SiO2 + CaOnon-rare-earth impurities | 0 – 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Osub-stoichiometric CeO2-x forms in reducing atmospheres | balance |
What surface finishes work on CeO2?
Lapped and diamond-polished to optical/sputter-target flatness; the powder itself is the standard chemical-mechanical polishing medium for silica glass and wafers.
How much does CeO2 cost?
CeO2 is a premium-cost ceramic ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
CeO2 — frequently asked
What is CeO2 used for?
CeO2 is typically used for glass/wafer CMP polishing, solid oxide fuel cell components, catalytic supports and UV-blocking coatings. In short: standard glass-polishing oxide; oxygen-storage functional ceramic; doped GDC10 for SOFC.
Is CeO2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, better than 69% of ceramic grades). Machine green or bisque-fired bodies with carbide tooling; after sintering only diamond grinding/lapping is practical and chipping at edges is common due to low toughness.
Can CeO2 be welded?
Not weldable — join by ceramic–metal brazing (Ag-Cu-Ti active braze) or glass sealing; CTE ~10–12 µm/m·K matches many ferritic stainless steels.
What surface finishes work on CeO2?
Lapped and diamond-polished to optical/sputter-target flatness; the powder itself is the standard chemical-mechanical polishing medium for silica glass and wafers.
Can CeO2 be formed, bent or molded?
Uniaxial or isostatic pressing, tape casting and screen printing of submicron powder, then pressureless sintering at 1400–1650 °C; keep the firing atmosphere oxidising to avoid CeO2-x expansion cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of CeO2?
CeO2 is rated for continuous use to about 1,700°C (3,092 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does CeO2 cost?
CeO2 is a premium-cost ceramic ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- NIST-JANAF Thermochemical Tables — CeO2 — NIST (1998)
- Cerium oxide polishing and catalyst grades — technical data — Solvay / Treibacher Industrie AG (2022)
- GDC10 / CGO electrolyte powder and tape specifications — fuelcellmaterials (Nexceris) (2021)
- Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths — ceria properties — Elsevier (2016)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.