A solution and solid state study of niobium complexes University of ...

2.1.2 Uses
Chapter 2
Niobium has a variety of useful properties; not only for the chemical industry, but
also for the steel-, nuclear energy- and electronics industries. In most of the
applications where tantalum or niobium can be used, tantalum is at present preferred
because of its lower cost and due to the fact that it is slightly more resistant to
chemical corrosion than niobium.
Table 2.3: Uses of niobium. 5
Niobium
Product
Niobium oxide
Application Benefits
- Camera lenses.
- Coating on glass for computer
screens.
- Ceramic capacitors.
- Manufacture of lithium niobate
for surface acoustic wave filters.
Niobium carbide Cutting tool compositions.
Niobium powder
Niobium metal
Ferro-niobium
Niobiumtitanium
and
niobium-tin
alloys
Niobium capacitors for
electronic circuits.
Chemical processing
equipment.
Niobium additive to high
strength low alloy steel and
stainless steel.
Superconducting magnetic coils
in magnetic resonance imagery
(MRI).
8
- High index of refraction.
- High dielectric constant.
- Increase light transmittance.
High temperature deformation
and controls grain growth.
High dielectric constant,
stability of oxide dielectric.
Corrosion resistance.
Weight reduction and
increased strength and
toughness due to grain
refining.
Very low electrical resistance
of alloy wire at low
temperatures.
Niobium has good high temperature strength and when alloyed with other metals it
has improved strength at high temperatures. Ferro-niobium is a mixture of iron and
niobium and is used as an additive to improve the strength and corrosion resistance
of steel. High purity ferroniobium is used in superalloys for applications as heat-
resisting and combustion equipment such as jet engine and missile components. 6
5 D. L. Kepert, The Early Transition Metals, Academic Press, London, 142, 1972.
6 D. J. Soisson, J. J. McLafferty, J. A. Pierret, Ind. Eng. Chem., 53, 11, 861, 1961.