Significance and use of niobium

*Niobium is used to increase the refractive index of glass. This allows optical corrective glasses to be made with lighter, thinner lenses.
*Niobium is used to make commemorative coins.
Niobium is used to make special stainless steel alloys. About 90% of extracted niobium is used to make high-grade structural steel.
Niobium is used to make various super alloys. These alloys are used in rocket and jet engines, oil rigs and gas turbines. Grinding machines and beams for buildings are also made from alloys made from niobium. These alloys show improved strength at low temperatures, and niobium alloys are also used in the nozzles of the Apollo Service Module.

Niobium carbide is used to make sharp knives.
Niobium is also used to make surface acoustic wave devices, an important component of electronic components.
Niobium is used to make superconducting magnets for MRI scanners, nuclear magnetic resonance and particle gas pedals.
*Niobium is hypoallergenic and is used to make implantable devices and prosthetics.
Niobium is used to make a variety of shiny, colorful jewelry.
Niobium is used as a catalyst in the manufacture of acrylic acid.