About Niobium
Niobium is a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, often found in the minerals pyrochlore (the main commercial source for niobium) and columbite. As the lightest of the refractory metals (a group of metallic elements that exhibit extremely high melt points and heat resistance), niobium is a highly sought-after material with applications in aerospace, electronics, nuclear power and defense. In this article, we explore the properties that set niobium apart from the other refractory metals, as well as its current applications and potential for use in future technologies. Niobium consumption is dominated by its use as additive to high strength low alloy steel and stainless steel for oil and gas pipelines, car and truck bodies, architectural requirements, tool steels, ships hulls, railroad tracks. However, there are a number of other applications for niobium metal and its compounds. Although niobium has many applications the majority is used in the production of high-grade structural steel. The second largest application for niobium is in nickel-based superalloys. Niobium-tin alloys are used as superconducting magnets.