The main role of niobium is to form a hard carbide (good for wear) and change the shape and size of the graphite sheet, so it is often used in the manufacture of automobile cylinder heads, piston rings and brake pads. In fact, the aerospace industry is the main application field of high purity niobium, mainly used in the production of rockets, spacecraft engines and heat-resistant components.
The thermal strength alloys of niobium and tantalum have good thermal strength, thermal resistance and processing properties, and are widely used in the manufacture of aircraft engine parts and gas turbine blades. In the United States almost all jet fighter engine thermal components are made of niobium alloy.
Niobate ceramics can be used to make capacitors, lithium niobate, potassium niobate and other compound single crystal is a new type of optoelectronics and electronics crystals, with good piezoelectric, thermoelectric and optical properties, is widely used in infrared, laser technology and electronics industry. In addition, niobium has a high melting point, a strong ability to emit electrons, and has the ability to inhale, which can be used to make electronic tubes and other electric vacuum devices.
Niobium is estimated to be 20% abundant in the Earth's crust, ranking 33rd among all elements. Some scientists believe that niobium is more abundant throughout the Earth, but because of its high density, it is mainly concentrated in the Earth's core. Niobium does not occur in its pure form in nature, but combines with other elements to form minerals.
These minerals generally also contain tantalum, such as niobite and coltan. Minerals containing niobium and tantalum are usually secondary minerals in pegmatite and alkaline intrusive rocks. Other minerals include calcium, uranium and thorium, as well as niobates of rare earth elements, such as pyrochlore and black gold.
