Introduction
Niobium is a soft, ductile transition metal with excellent corrosion resistance. Its oxide, niobium pentoxide, protects the metal’s interior from corrosion, similar to aluminium oxide and zinc oxide.
Key features of niobium:
Enhances stainless steel’s high-temperature strength and reduces tempering brittleness.
Improves steel’s strength, toughness, and high-temperature creep resistance.
Small thermal neutron absorption cross-section, making it suitable for nuclear reactors and fuel packaging.
High superconducting transition temperature — ideal for superconducting materials and magnets.
Niobium plates and foils are widely used in chemical, aerospace, medical, electronics, and superconducting applications.
| Type | Thickness (mm) | Width (mm) | Length (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foil | 0.03 – 0.09 | 30 – 150 | <2000 |
| Sheet | 0.1 – 0.5 | 30 – 600 | 30 – 2000 |
| Board | 0.5 – 10 | 50 – 1000 | 50 – 2000 |
| Grade | Nb (Remainder) | 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 | — | 0.07 | 0.015 | 0.004 | 0.0015 |
| Nb2 | Remainder | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.005 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.004 | — | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.0015 |
Niobium’s excellent corrosion resistance and workability make it suitable for:
Chemical Industry: Corrosion-resistant plates, foils, and components.
Medical: Biocompatible implants and surgical instruments.
Aerospace & Aviation: Structural materials for high-temperature applications.
Electronics: Capacitors, thin films, superconducting magnets.
Jewellery & Consumer Products: High-quality, malleable sheets and foils.
High-Energy Physics: Targets, superconducting materials, and cryogenic equipment.