What Are the Primary Uses for Niobium?

Description

• Niobium, whose atomic number is 41, has an atomic weight of 92.90638. This soft, shiny gray-white metal is ductile, malleable and resistant to corrosion. Solid at room temperature, it melts at 4491 degrees F, and boils at 8571 degrees F. Niobium occurs along with the element tantalum in the minerals columbite and pyrochlore; in fact, the two elements are so similar that niobium was at first mistaken for tantalum.

Steel and Superalloys

• The steel industry is the main consumer of niobium. Because niobium strengthens and increases the heat resistance of steel, it is an important ingredient in many commonly-used steel alloys. For example; automobiles, aircraft, railroads, oil and gas pipelines and many buildings and bridges have components made of high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels that contain a small percentage of niobium. Stainless steel alloys used in nuclear reactors and cutting tools also contain niobium. Niobium also combines with nickel, iron or other metals to form superalloys, which are used in rockets, jet engines and turbines.

Superconductors

• When cooled to -442.75 degrees F, niobium offers no resistance to the flow of electricity, making it a superconductor. Because of its superconductive properties, niobium is used to make very powerful magnets. For example; the superconducting magnets in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices use wires made of alloys of niobium and tin or titanium. Particle accelerators use niobium as a superconducting material as well.

Miscellaneous Uses

• Niobium has uses in a variety of other areas. Light and hypoallergenic, niobium is a common material for making jewelry and is used in some surgical implants. Its high dielectric constant makes it a good substitute for tantalum in capacitors and, because adding niobium gives glass a high refractive index, the metal is used in eyeglasses and camera lenses. In addition, anodized niobium adds color to commemorative coins and jewelry.