Niobium strip: production, properties, application

Niobium is a chemical element with 41 serial number. It was first discovered in the early 19th century, but its recognition was postponed for 150 years. Only in 1950 by the decision of the International Union of Applied and Theoretical Chemistry, the atom was allocated its own cell in the periodic system of Mendeleyev. In order to use the useful qualities of the element in the industry, a niobium strip is made from it. By itself, it does not have anything unique. All its potential is revealed when creating alloys, solutions and other compounds.

Extraction of niobium

Enrichment of niobium ore is a very complex and expensive process. All because its content in one ton of rock does not exceed 24 grams. In addition, the element is very difficult to distinguish from tantalum because of similar chemical properties.

Under natural conditions, it is found only in a scattered form - in igneous rocks and crystals, as well as in the composition of some minerals - pyrochlore, loparite, columbite-tantalite. This element of the periodic system is extracted mainly from the compounds represented. The production of niobium consists of three stages:

1. Opening of a breed with a high content of niobium substances.
2. Separation of niobium from tantalum, the preparation of their pure compounds.
3. Recovery and purification of metal and its alloys from impurities.

The basis of the production cycle is high-temperature thermal processes using aluminum, sodium or carbon. Directly niobium bands are obtained by pressing the powder, sintering the powder "cubes" in vacuum, and also by electro beam arc melting.

Beneficial features

Due to its outstanding characteristics, niobium is used in many industries. To facilitate the process of introducing the element into the formula of the basic composition, various rolling products are manufactured, including the niobium strip. The main active substance in this case is niobium carbide, which has a beneficial effect on the mechanical properties of materials. To alloy one ton of steel, only 200 grams of niobium is needed. The obtained alloy is distinguished by high hardness and plasticity, low brittleness, better resistance to corrosion. The element is also used for protective non-ferrous metals, in particular aluminum, from alkalis and acids.

Application of niobium

The niobium strip is most often used as an alloying additive for the creation of alloys from both non-ferrous and ferrous metals. The main spheres of application of niobium are rocket engineering, radio and electronic equipment, chemical apparatus engineering, aviation and space engineering.

The use of metallic, or pure, niobium is due to a number of its useful properties. Among them, particularly high refractoriness, corrosion resistance, the ability to improve the heat resistance of materials and their conductivity.

The unique quality that the niobium band possesses is practically zero interaction with uranium isotopes at temperatures up to 1100 degrees Celsius. Moreover, the atom has low artificial radioactivity. All this allows it to be used to protect nuclear reactors, as well as containers for storing spent radioactive fuel.

Products from niobium

From metal niobium, products are created mainly to meet the needs of the nuclear industry. Here, it provides shells for uranium and plutonium heat-removal elements, containers for storing liquid metals, radioactive waste. Products made of niobium are used to create super-powerful computing equipment. With its help reduce the resistance of the conductors, thereby obtaining cryotrons - super-high-conductivity elements of the computer. In Austria, an alloy of silver and niobium was used for coinage of collection coins.