Niobium (Columbium) Refractory Metals

Niobium is a chemical element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. Niobium is a light grey, crystalline with a melting point of 2468°C which characterizes it as a refractory metal. With its myriad of properties, Niobium is an excellent contender for fabricated parts.

 

Due to its low capture cross section for thermal neutrons, Niobium has application in the nuclear industry. Niobium can be electrically heated and anodized to a wide variety of colors and may be used as a hypoallergenic alternative to Nickel making it a very attractive material for use in the jewelry industry. Niobium is added to Iron or Nickel to produce alloys found in the aerospace, medical and electronics industries.

 

Niobium becomes a superconductor at cryogenic temperatures and has the greatest magnetic penetration depth of any element. Niobium has the lowest melting point of all the traditional refractory metals. Its chemical properties are very similar to those of Tantalum which appear directly below Niobium in the Periodic Table, however, the corrosion resistance of Niobium is not as robust as Tantalum.

 

Niobium was called Columbium (symbol Cb) in the United States for approximately one hundred years, although in Europe it was referenced as Niobium. In 1949, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry officially adopted Niobium as the element’s name worldwide. Today, one can still find metallurgists and metal societies that still refer to Niobium as Columbium.

 

When compared with other refractory metals, Niobium possesses the:

NIOBIUM QUICK FACTS

• Symbol: Nb
• Category: Reactive Transition Metal, Group 5
• Atomic Number: 41
• Crystal Structure: Body-centered Cubic
• Density: 8.60 g/cm³
• Discovered: 1801

EFINEA is a leading supplier of refractory metals and alloys. We have supplied specialty metals and alloys to high technology industries since 1965.  We have a large inventory of refractory metals and alloys, and distribute Niobium products sourced from manufacturers and leading mills who produce them.

Niobium Coil, Plate, Round Bar, Rod, Sheet, Strip & Wire

We are a distributor of Niobium from leading mills. We supply Niobium coil, plate, round bar, rod, sheet, strip and wire in a variety of sizes.

The chemical properties of Niobium are very similar to those of Tantalum. View the specifications and the typical  mechanical, physical, and chemical properties this metal exhibits.

Niobium is to some extent difficult to machine and has a tendency to gall, tear and weld to the cutting tool.  Light machine oils and lubricants with additives designed to prevent cold welding and sticking are suitable machining lubricants. Bronze is a good tooling material to use to avoid the cold-welding problems this metal exhibits but high-speed steel and carbide tools may also be employed, however there is a tendency to gall with carbide tools. Since Niobium has high ductility, it can be processed by bending, deep drawing, pressing, stamping, etc.