Characteristics of niobium metal

Niobium is a rare silver gray refractory metal with a melting point of about 2468 ℃ and a density of about 8.57 g/cm ³. It is lighter than tungsten and tantalum, but has outstanding high temperature resistance. It is chemically stable at room temperature and has good corrosion resistance to most acid, alkali, and salt solutions. It is insoluble in aqua regia, but can be corroded by hydrofluoric acid and strong oxidizing media.

Niobium has good plasticity and can be processed through forging, rolling, drawing, and stamping, making it suitable for producing bars, plates, foils, wires, and precision components. It also has a low neutron absorption cross-section and low-temperature superconductivity, with a superconducting critical temperature of about 9.2K, making it widely used in the nuclear industry and superconducting materials.

When used as a fastener or precision component material, niobium has the advantages of high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, low neutron absorption, good plasticity, and biocompatibility; The disadvantage is that the strength at room temperature is not high, and the high-temperature oxidation resistance is weak. After exceeding 400 ℃, the oxidation rate will significantly increase, usually requiring surface protection or the use of niobium alloy.