Uses of Gadolinium
Gadolinium is used in alloys of iron and chromium to improve resistance to high temperatures and oxidation.
Gadolinium is used to make gadolinium yttrium garnets which have microwave applications.
Gadolinium compounds are used as green phosphors in color television picture tubes.
Because of its magnetic properties, gadolinium is also used in intravenous radiocontrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging.
Arc-melted alloys of gadolinium, silicon, and germanium demonstrate a strong magnetocaloric effect at room temperatures (where its temperature increases when it enters a magnetic field and decreases when it leaves the magnetic field) making it useful in the field of room temperature magnetic refrigeration.