(FeNb) Atomic Numbers 26,41
Ferro Niobium is an alloy, which is formed by combining iron and niobium with a niobium content range of 60-70%. Ferro Niobium is the number one alloying agent used for high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel and Ferro Niobium has captured 80% of the world market in HSLA. Ferro Niobium additives to HSLA steel (as well as to stainless steel) can be found in oil and gas pipelines, automotive bodies, tools, ship hulls, railroad tracks and a host of other specialist applications. Since Ferro Niobium can effectively double the strength and toughness, as well as reduce the weight of the alloy, it is a highly desirable compound.
Properties of Ferro Niobium
Ferro Niobium is an additive to the production process of amorphous metals, and will impart several desirable properties upon the resulting compound. One of the primary benefits of adding Ferro Niobium to an alloy is in its anti-corrosive properties (better than carbon steel). Additionally, the adding of Ferro Niobium to an alloy can make it more weldable and much stronger. With the addition of other elements such as Zirconium, Ferro Niobium-produced steel is perfect for directionally sensitive applications such as suspension bridges. Most SAE grade steels are Ferro Niobium treated, as Ferro Niobium increases high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, creep resistance, as well as reducing erosion at higher temperatures.
Production of Ferro Niobium
A large portion of the global Ferro Niobium supply is manufactured in Brazil and Canada. The most basic definition of the Ferro Niobium production process would be that the Niobium is first mined from Pyrochlore deposits, and is then processed into Niobium Pentoxide (Nb2O5). This oxide is mixed with iron oxide as well as aluminium, and then reduced in an aluminothermy reaction to Niobium and Iron. The resulting Ferro Niobium is purified by electron-beam melting, or used as is. For alloying with steel, the Ferro Niobium is added to molten steel before casting. Ferro Niobium is usually supplied in powder or briquettes (from 2mm to 50mm), in either bags or steel drums for shipping.
Uses of Ferro Niobium
The largest practical application of Ferro Niobium is in the alloying process of HSLA steel. This steel is then in turn used in automobiles and trucks, bridges, construction cranes, amusement park rides and any other structure that needs to handle a large amount of stress or needs a good strength-to-weight ratio. But other uses of Ferro Niobium are also common. It is used in vacuum-grade products for super alloy applications such as land-based and jet aircraft engine turbine blades.
Ferro Niobium Market
The market for Ferro Niobium has traditionally and logically followed the market for HSLA steel, and has also fluctuated with contributing variables: heavyweight construction, the superconductor market, the increase of magnetic levitation and propulsion systems construction, nuclear fusion reactor construction and aircraft production. The one country to watch now is India, as India’s steel production grew almost 13% in 2007 and steel consumption grew 14% during that same year. India is now the 5th largest steel producing country, up from 7th just one year ago.
