stylistic:style_transfer
Other applications

When added to vanadium as an alloy, erbium lowers hardness and improves workability. An erbium- nickel alloy Er Ni has an unusually high specific heat capacity at liquid-helium temperatures and is used in cryocoolers; a mixture of 65% Er Co and 35% Er Yb Ni by volume improves the specific heat capacity even more.

Erbium oxide has a pink color, and is sometimes used as a colorant for glass, cubic zirconia and porcelain. The glass is then often used in sunglasses and jewellery, or where infrared absorption is needed.

Erbium is used in nuclear technology in neutron-absorbing control rods. or as a burnable poison in nuclear fuel design.