Description
Overview
Caesium is a soft, silvery-gold alkali metal, highly reactive with water, producing hydrogen gas and requiring storage in inert environments. It is typically processed into sealed ampules or compounds like caesium formate for safe handling in specialized applications. Renowned for defining the second in atomic clocks using caesium-133, critical for GPS and telecommunications, it is also used in ion thrusters for spacecraft, photocells for light detection, and drilling fluids in oil extraction. Caesium is primarily extracted as a byproduct from pollucite ores, often alongside lithium, in limited quantities due to its rarity.
Properties
- Composition: Typically 99.9% or higher pure caesium.
- Density: 1.93 g/cm³ (bulk solid).
- Melting Point: 28.4°C (83.1°F), very low, often liquid near room temperature due to its alkali metal nature.
- Color: Silvery-gold with a metallic sheen; tarnishes rapidly to gray or yellowish in air due to oxidation.
- Particle Size: Not used as a powder due to reactivity
- Malleability: Highly malleable in solid form, easily deformable, but impractical due to extreme reactivity.
- Electrical Conductivity: High for a metal, ~4.8 MS/m (about 8% of copper’s conductivity), reduced in compounds or oxidized forms.
- Thermal Conductivity: Moderate, ~36 W/(m·K) in solid form, lower in compounds or when oxidized.
- Corrosion Resistance: Extremely poor; reacts vigorously with air and water, forming caesium oxide or hydroxide, requiring sealed storage.
Applications
- Atomic Clocks: Defines the second using caesium-133’s hyperfine transition, critical for GPS, telecommunications, and scientific timing.
- Ion Propulsion: Used in ion thrusters for spacecraft, leveraging caesium’s low ionization energy for efficient propulsion.
- Photocells: Employed in photomultiplier tubes and infrared detectors for light-sensitive devices.
- Drilling Fluids: Caesium formate serves as a high-density fluid in oil and gas drilling, enhancing efficiency in high-pressure wells.
- Medical Imaging: Caesium isotopes (e.g., caesium-137) are used in positron emission tomography (PET) and radiation therapy research.
- Catalysts: Caesium compounds act as promoters in chemical synthesis, such as ammonia production.
Packaging options
Standard Format:
Ampules of 1–100 g, vacuum-sealed or argon-filled.
Packaging:
Argon-filled, vacuum-sealed ampules.
Custom Sizes Available:
Custom quantities available in 1–500 g ampules.
Market outlook
Caesium’s demand is niche, driven by its critical role in atomic clocks, drilling fluids, and medical applications. Caesium formate prices range from $10,000–$15,000 per ton as of early 2025, with Canada and China leading supply. The market, valued at ~$500 million in 2025, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4–7% through 2030, fueled by advancements in telecommunications, space exploration, and cancer treatment technologies.
Purchase & Compliance
Certificate of analysis included. Third-party testing offered. KYC may apply for bulk orders.
If you’d like more details on any of these materials, such as specific applications, market trends, or technical specifications, send us a message!
