Use
Erbium has application in glass coloring, as an amplifier in fiber optics, and in lasers for medical and dental use.
It is commonly used as a photographic filter, and because of its resilience it is useful as a metallurgical additive.
The Erbium ion has a very narrow absorption band coloring erbium salts pink. It is therefore used in eyeware and decorative glassware. It can neutralize discoloring impurities such as ferric ions and produce a neutral gray shade. It is used in a variety of glass products for this purpose.
Lasers based on Er:YAG are ideally suited for surgical applications because of its ability to deliver energy without thermal build-up in tissue.
Erbium Metal, is mainly metallurgical uses. Added to vanadium, for example, Erbium lowers hardness and improves workability. There are also a few applications for nuclear industry. Erbium Metal can be further processed to various shapes of ingots, pieces, wires, foils, slabs, rods, discs and powder.