What Can Niobium Be Used For?

Niobium is one of the rare metals with a high melting point. From the successful refining of metallic niobium at the beginning of the century to the industrial production of niobium at the end of the 1920s, a period of just over 20 years has elapsed. In the past, niobium was used in the military and cutting-edge technology, but now its application has been extended to many other fields of science and technology. In order to make niobium more practical value, and promote the faster development of the niobium industry, in order to achieve better social benefits, it is very meaningful to further understand and study the resource situation, application areas, and market characteristics of niobium.

According to the published information, the world's total niobium reserves are about 38 million t. Brazil is the country with the largest reserves and production of niobium in the world, with reserves of about 23 million t, accounting for 60% of the world total. China is also a country rich in niobium resources, with reserves accounting for about 17% of the world's total. Based on the current annual consumption of mining and production, niobium can be used by mankind for several hundred to nearly a thousand years. The abundant natural resources are an important guarantee and superior condition for the development of the niobium industry. The world's demand for niobium has been on a stable trend in recent years, with an average annual consumption of 19,000 t. From 1988 to 1993, the world consumption of Nb2O5 was 34% in Europe, 30% in North America, 32% in Japan and 4% in other countries, and 75% in steel additives, 2% in stainless steel, 10% in ultra-high temperature alloys and 3% in other applications.

Since the 1950s, China has been conducting research on niobium and tantalum, producing Nb205. In the mid-1960s, niobium powder and niobium bars were produced by carbon reduction, and medium and high-grade niobium-iron alloys were produced by aluminum thermal reduction. In the late 80s, we developed and produced niobium carbide powder and Nb-Ta composite carbide (powder) and many new niobium products. In recent years, China's niobium, tantalum metallurgy, and processing industry in the development of niobium products, and applications, have made many important achievements. At present, China's niobium industrial production, mainly including niobium concentrate mining, metallurgy production of niobium oxide, niobium powder, niobium bars, ferro-niobium alloy, niobium ingots, processing and production of niobium materials to niobium alloy with the largest amount of niobium, accounting for about 80% of total niobium consumption.

With the realization of technical progress and technological improvement measures, the comprehensive technical level of production of the niobium industry in China will gradually improve, and the resource advantages of niobium will be further exploited. It is reasonable to believe that the niobium industry has a broad development prospect in China. As a professional manufacturer of niobium material, Baoji Freelong  Company can produce niobium rods, niobium wires, niobium tubes, niobium alloys, etc. If you are interested in purchasing, please send us an inquiry and we will give you a reasonable quotation and satisfactory products.