Substitutes

Substitutes and Alternatives for Thulium

The availability of viable substitutes is a key factor in assessing Thulium's criticality. Across its 2 primary applications, substitution options range from commercially viable alternatives with performance trade-offs to applications where Thulium currently has no effective substitute.

Substitution Analysis by Application

The following table details available substitutes for Thulium across its primary applications, including the trade-offs involved:

Performance Trade-offs

In most applications, substituting Thulium involves measurable performance penalties. Electronic X-ray tubes are now more common; Tm-170 sources remain useful for truly portable field applications where no power source is available. In high-performance applications such as portable x-ray machines, these trade-offs can be particularly significant.

Research and Development

Active research programs are underway to develop improved substitutes and to reduce the amount of Thulium required per unit of product (thrifting). However, timelines for commercializing new alternatives typically span years to decades. The limited substitutability of Thulium is a primary driver of its high criticality rating, prompting government-funded substitution research programs.