About Niobium (Nb)

Symbol: Nb
Atomic Number: 41
Atomic Weight: 92.906
Element Category: Refractory Metal

Niobium is a ductile, silver-gray refractory metal known for its excellent corrosion resistance, high melting point, and superior superconducting properties. Its ability to form stable oxides, combined with outstanding thermal and chemical stability, makes it a critical material for high-performance applications in aerospace, electronics, superconductors, medical implants, and chemical processing systems.

Niobium Product Categories

Niobium Metals

Forms Available:
Sheet, Plate, Foil, Strip, Rod, Bar, Wire, Tube, Pipe,

Niobium Alloys

Common alloys include:

• Niobium–Tantalum (Nb–Ta) Alloys
• Niobium–Hafnium (Nb–Hf) Alloys
• Molybdenum–Niobium (Mo–Nb) Alloys
• Niobium C103 Alloy

These alloys are tailored for high-temperature, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant applications in aerospace, nuclear, superconducting, and industrial systems.

Key Properties of Niobium

• High melting point: 2,468°C (4,474°F)
• Excellent corrosion resistance in most chemical environments
• Superior ductility and formability for complex components
• High thermal and electrical conductivity
• Stable at high temperatures and in vacuum systems
• Biocompatible for medical applications
• Suitable for superconducting applications at cryogenic temperatures

Applications of Niobium

1. Steel Production
Niobium is a critical microalloying element in high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels. Even a fraction of 0.1% niobium significantly enhances strength, toughness, and weldability, making it ideal for automotive body panels, pipelines, and petrochemical infrastructure.

2. Superalloys
Niobium improves mechanical strength, creep resistance, and oxidation stability in nickel-, cobalt-, and iron-based superalloys. Concentrations up to 6.5% are common in aerospace engine components, turbine blades, and gas turbines that operate at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C (1,832°F).

3. Superconducting Magnets
Certain niobium alloys, such as Nb–Ti and Nb–Zr, are type II superconductors. When cooled below their critical temperatures, they exhibit negligible electrical resistance, making them indispensable in superconducting magnets used for MRI machines, particle accelerators, and quantum computing devices.

4. Aerospace and High-Temperature Applications
Niobium and its alloys are used in high-temperature furnace components, heating elements, and thermal shielding. Their resistance to creep and oxidation under extreme temperatures ensures reliability in jet engines, space vehicles, and high-vacuum systems.

5. Medical and Electronic Applications
Biocompatible niobium alloys are utilized in medical implants and surgical instruments. In electronics, niobium compounds and alloys serve as key materials in capacitors, superconducting wires, and specialized semiconductors.

FAQs

1. Do you provide custom sizes or shapes?
Yes. All niobium sheets, plates, rods, wires, tubes, foils, and crucibles can be fabricated to meet custom specifications.

2. Which industries commonly use niobium?
Aerospace, superconducting magnets, medical implants, electronics, chemical processing, nuclear systems, and research institutions.

3. Is niobium safe for medical use?
Yes. Niobium is biocompatible, non-toxic, and corrosion-resistant, making it suitable for implants and surgical devices.

4. Why is niobium used in high-temperature and vacuum environments?
Niobium maintains stability at extreme temperatures, forms protective oxide layers, and exhibits low vapor pressure in vacuum conditions, ensuring durability and reliability.

5. Can niobium be welded or machined?
Yes. Niobium exhibits excellent ductility, weldability, and machinability, especially under inert atmospheres, allowing for precise fabrication of complex components.

Related reading:

Niobium's Role in Superconducting Materials,

Application of Niobium in the Steel Industry,

10 Important Uses of Niobium,

What Happens if Rhenium Is Alloyed to Niobium, Tungsten, and Tantalum?

The Role of Niobium in Superalloys,