Types of Niobium

Metallurgical Niobium Powder

Niobium powder is generally obtained by powder metallurgy, with dark gray appearance, for processing raw materials and producing welding rods, etc. According to the different requirements of the products, FNb-1 and FNb-2 are classified into three grades. According to the different requirements of the products, niobium powder is divided into three grades: FNb-1, FNb-2 and FNb-3. FNb-1 and FNb-2 niobium powder should pass through 150um (100 mesh) sieve, and FNb-3 niobium powder should pass through 180um (80 mesh) sieve.

Niobium-zirconium alloys

Alloys consisting of metallic zirconium added to metallic niobium. Zirconium in niobium alloy mainly exists in solid solution state, when the storage of trace and carbon or add trace carbon, there is a small amount of carbide and oxide diffuse precipitation, so niobium-zirconium so that the alloy has a high strength and good plastic processing performance, good resistance to oxygen and alkali corrosion resistance.

Niobium oxide

Niobium oxide obtained by liquid-liquid extraction, white or light yellow powder, for the production of niobium powder, niobium strips and ceramic capacitors. According to the requirements of use and different chemical compositions, the products are divided into FNb2O5-1, FNb2O5-2 and FNb2O5-3.

FNb2O5-3 grades.

Tantalum and Niobium

Put them together to introduce is reasonable, because they are in the periodic table of the elements of the same family, physical and chemical properties are very similar, and often "inseparable", in the natural world accompanied by together, really is a pair of exquisite "twin brother". In fact, when people first discovered niobium and tantalum in the early nineteenth century, they thought they were the same element. It was only about forty-two years later, when they were chemically separated for the first time, that it became clear that they were two different metals. Niobium and tantalum, like tungsten and molybdenum, are rare, high-melting-point metals, and there are many similarities in their properties and uses.

Since they are called rare high melting point metals, the main characteristic of niobium and tantalum is of course heat resistance. Their melting point of up to 2,400 degrees Celsius and nearly 3,000 degrees Celsius, not to mention the general fire can not burn them, that is, the flames in the steel furnace sea of flames can not help them. No wonder in some high-temperature and high heat sector, especially the manufacture of more than 1,600 degrees of vacuum heating furnace, tantalum metal is very suitable material.

The excellent properties of one metal can often be "transplanted" into another. The use of niobium as an alloying element added to steel can increase the high-temperature strength of steel and improve processing performance. Niobium, tantalum and tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, nickel, cobalt and a series of metal cooperation, to get the "hot strong alloy", can be used as supersonic jet aircraft and rockets, missiles and other structural materials. Scientists in the development of new high-temperature structural materials, has begun to turn its attention to niobium, tantalum; many high-temperature, high-strength alloys have this pair of twin brothers to participate.

Niobium, tantalum itself is very tenacious, their carbides are more capable, this characteristic and tungsten, molybdenum is no different. With niobium and tantalum carbide as the matrix made of cemented carbide, has a high strength and pressure, wear and corrosion resistance. Among all hard compounds, tantalum carbide has the highest hardness. Cutting tools made of tantalum carbide cemented carbide can resist high temperatures below 3,800 degrees, and their hardness is comparable to that of diamond, with a longer service life than tungsten carbide.