Pure niobium RO4200, purity ≧99.95%. Niobium tungsten alloy Nb521, (main composition W: 4.5%-5.5% Mo: 1.5%-2.5% Zr: 0.7%-1.5% Impurity content H:< 0.0015%C :< 0.01%O :<0.025%). Niobium titanium alloy NbTi50, Ti: 47-50%, niobium zirconium alloy RO4261(NbZr1), Zr: 0.8~1.2%. Niobium hafnium alloy C103, (main composition Hf: 9-11% Ti: 0.7-1.3% Zr:0.7Max Ta:0.5Max W:0.5Max Impurity content C:0.015Max H:0.0015Max O:0.025Max N :0.01 Max).
Superconducting application: There are many elements with superconducting properties, niobium is one of the highest critical temperature. Alloys made of niobium, with critical temperatures as high as 18.5-21 degrees absolute, are currently the most important superconducting materials. A DC generator has been made of niobium-titanium superconducting material. It has many advantages, such as small size, light weight, low cost, compared with the same size of the ordinary generator, it produces a hundred times more electricity.
Superalloys: A large portion of the world's niobium is used in the production of nickel, chromium and iron-based superalloys in pure metallic form or in the form of high purity ferric niobium and niobium nickel alloys. These alloys are used in jet engines, gas turbine engines, rocket components, turbochargers and heat-resistant combustion devices. Niobium will form a γ phase in the grain structure of superalloy. These alloys generally contain up to 6.5% niobium. Inconel718 alloy is one of the niobium-nickel based alloys, the content of each element is: nickel 50%, chromium 18.6%, iron 18.5%, niobium 5%, molybdenum 3.1%, titanium 0.9% and aluminum 0.4%. Applications include as a high-end airframe material, such as was used in Project Gemini.
Steel application: Among the various microalloying elements of steel, waste niobium is the most effective microalloying element, and the role of niobium is so large that the iron atom is rich in niobium atoms, which can achieve the purpose of improving the performance of steel. In fact, adding 0.001%-0.1% niobium to steel is enough to change the mechanical properties of steel. For example, when 0.1% alloying elements are added, the yield strength of steel is increased to: niobium 118MPa; Vanadium 71.5MPa; Molybdenum 40MPa; Manganese 17.6MPa; Titanium is zero. In fact, only 0.03%-0.05%NB is added to the steel, and the yield strength of the steel can be increased by more than 30%. The cost of steel increased by only $1 per ton. For example, the yield strength of ordinary medium carbon steel is generally 250MPa, and the addition of trace niobium can increase the strength to 350-800MPa.
