Introduction
Niobium tube is a precision pipe designed for transferring materials under extreme conditions, such as high temperature and high pressure. Owing to niobium’s excellent corrosion resistance and thermal stability, niobium tubes demonstrate outstanding compressive strength, tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and heat resistance.
These properties make niobium tubing ideal for applications in the nuclear industry, aerospace, shipbuilding, chemical engineering, and electronic equipment manufacturing.
| Grade | Main Component | Fe | Si | Ni | W | Mo | Ti | Ta | O | C | H | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nb1 | Remainder | 0.004 | 0.004 | 0.002 | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.002 | 0.05 | 0.015 | 0.004 | 0.0015 | 0.003 |
| Nb2 | Remainder | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.005 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.004 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.0015 | 0.008 |
Niobium tubes can undergo various surface treatment processes to enhance corrosion resistance and improve appearance:
Mechanical Polishing: Improves surface smoothness and dimensional accuracy.
Electrolytic Polishing: Produces a bright, corrosion-resistant finish.
Pickling: Removes oxide scales, oil, and surface contaminants.
Sandblasting: Cleans and textures the surface for subsequent processing or coating.
Niobium and its alloys are highly valued across multiple industries for their exceptional mechanical and chemical properties. Niobium tubes are widely used in:
High-temperature alloys and superalloys
Niobium-based alloys for heat and corrosion resistance
The steel industry as alloy additives to improve toughness and creep resistance
Electrical and electronic components
Precision instruments and optical devices
The medical field, including surgical implants and imaging systems
Aerospace and defence applications