Niobium Powder:Production,Types,Suppliers

Overview

Niobium powder is a refractory metal material valued for its unique combination of physical, chemical, and electrical properties. Also known as columbium, niobium offers excellent heat resistance, corrosion resistance, superconductivity at low temperatures, and stability in harsh environments.

As a powder, niobium facilitates fabrication of components via processes like metal injection molding, hot isostatic pressing, additive manufacturing, thermal spraying, and powder metallurgy pressing and sintering. Key applications include superconducting magnets, high-performance alloys, electronic devices, aerospace and defense components, chemical processors, and medical implants.

This guide provides a detailed overview of niobium powder, including production methods, compositions, characteristics, properties, specifications, applications, pricing, and major global suppliers. It also includes multiple tables summarizing key parameters to help engineers, product designers, and researchers understand niobium powder materials and select appropriate grades.

Production of Niobium Powder

Commercial production of niobium powder relies on extracting niobium ore minerals followed by chemical conversion processes to obtain niobium in powder form.

Niobium Powder Production Methods

• Extraction – Niobium ores are mined and concentrated through flotation to produce pyrochlore or columbite mineral concentrates.
• Conversion – Concentrates are chemically converted to crude niobium oxide or other niobium intermediates.
• Purification – Multiple processes applied to remove impurities from niobium chemical intermediates.
• Reduction – Niobium oxides/salts reduced with hydrogen, carbon, or metals to produce niobium metal powder.
• Condensation – Vaporized niobium metal condensed into fine spherical powders.
• Milling – Coarse niobium crushed into fine irregular powder particles.

Key production stages focus on removing impurities like tantalum, tungsten, iron, and other metals present in natural ores. This yields pure niobium powder suitable for advanced applications.

Types of Niobium Powder

Niobium powder is available in various compositions and morphologies to suit different fabrication processes and end-use requirements.

Niobium Powder Types

Type	Description	Particle Shape	Common Uses
Pure niobium	99.8-99.99% niobium content	Spherical, irregular	Alloys, superconductors
Niobium hydride	NbH2, niobium with atomic hydrogen	Irregular, porous	High purity alloys, additive manufacturing
Niobium-titanium	Nb-Ti alloys with 10-50% Ti	Irregular	MRI magnets, superconductors
Nickel niobium	Nb-Ni alloys, commonly 60:40 ratio	Spherical	Electronics, corrosion resistant alloys
Tantalum niobium	Nb-Ta alloys containing 10-90% Ta	Angular	High temperature alloys, corrosion resistance
Ferroniobium	Iron-niobium master alloys with 60-70% Nb	Irregular	Steel alloying addition

Pure niobium provides optimal high temperature properties. Alloying additions like titanium or nickel enhance mechanical properties. Hydriding improves powder flow and sintering response.

Properties of Niobium Powder

Niobium powder offers a balance of physical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, and chemical properties that make it suitable for high performance applications.

Niobium Powder Properties

Property	Typical Values	Significance
Particle size	1 – 150 microns	Compactibility, sintering behavior
Apparent density	2.5 – 5.0 g/cc	Pressing and handling characteristics
Tap density	3.5 – 7.0 g/cc	Indicator of compressibility
Flow rate	25 – 50 s/50g	Powder flowability, ease of die fill
Oxygen content	500 – 5000 ppm	Influence on mechanical properties
Thermal conductivity	54 W/m·K	Heat removal capability
Melting point	2469°C	Retains strength at high temperatures
Electrical resistivity	15-20 μΩ·cm	Conductive properties
Tensile strength	250 – 650 MPa	Resistance to fracture
Hardness	80 – 200 HV	Resistance to wear, deformation

Very high melting point and stable microstructure confer excellent high temperature properties. Low electrical resistivity provides conductivity.

Powder characteristics like particle size, morphology, and oxygen content determine behavior during processing and final material performance.

Applications of Niobium Powder

The unique properties of niobium make it suitable for specialized applications including:

Niobium Powder Applications

Industry	Uses	Desired Properties
Aerospace	Jet engine components, rockets	High strength-to-weight ratio, heat resistance
Medical	Implants, radiation therapy	Biocompatibility, corrosion resistance
Electronics	Capacitors, conductive coatings	Electrical conductivity, superconductivity
Automotive	Exhaust systems, fuel cell catalysts	Corrosion resistance, high temperature strength
Chemical	Heat exchangers, reaction vessels	Corrosion resistance against acids and alkalis
Defense	Missile components, armor	High strength, heat resistance

Niobium alloys containing titanium or molybdenum provide elevated strength levels for aerospace turbines and rocket nozzles operating at extreme temperatures.

Specialty niobium-tin wires enable superconducting magnets for MRI medical imagers and physics research equipment. Porous niobium structures serve as catalyst supports for fuel cell electrodes.

Niobium’s stability across a wide temperature range makes it well suited for furnace components, aerospace systems, and other challenging high-heat environments.

Specifications for Niobium Powder

International material standards help define composition limits, acceptable impurity levels, particle size ranges, and other test methods specific to niobium powder grades for different applications.

Niobium Powder Specifications

Standard	Description	Particle Size	Purity	Oxygen Content
ASTM B393	Pure niobium powder	-325 mesh	99.8% min	2000 ppm max
ASTM B394	Niobium hydride powder	10 – 75 microns	98% min	4500 ppm max
AWS A5.18	Niobium-titanium powder for welding	-100 mesh	Per alloy composition	3000 ppm max
ASTM B517	Ferroniobium granules	3 – 25 mm	60-70% Nb	1.5% max
ISO 9001	Quality management for Nb producers	Customer specified	99.9% min	Application specific

These help define quality criteria for using niobium powder in different fields like alloy welding, superconductors, steelmaking, or general industrial applications.

Niobium Powder Suppliers

Many companies produce and distribute niobium powder in various compositions, sizes, purity levels, and package quantities to suit user requirements.

Niobium Powder Suppliers

Supplier	Production Capacity	Products	Pricing
CBMM	63,000 tonnes/year	Pure niobium, niobium hydride	$$/kg
Solikamsk	15,000 tonnes/year	Ferroniobium, niobium alloys	$$/kg
AMG Superalloys	10,000 tonnes/year	Nickel niobium, specialty alloys	$$$/kg
Titanex	3,000 tonnes/year	Pure niobium, mill products	$$/kg
Edgetech Industries	1,000 tonnes/year	Pure niobium, niobium oxides	$$/kg

Pricing varies based on purity, particle size, alloy composition, and lot quantity from $50/kg up to $500/kg or more for high purity grades.

High volume niobium producers are located in Brazil and Russia close to ore supplies. Additional processors exist worldwide to serve regional markets.

Selecting Niobium Powder

Choosing the best niobium powder requires matching composition, properties, and particle characteristics to production methods and performance requirements.

Key selection criteria:

• Purity levels – Impacts mechanical properties and microstructure
• Alloying additions – Titanium, nickel, or tantalum to enhance properties
• Particle size and shape – Affects pressing and sintering behavior
• Apparent and tap density – Indicates powder compressibility
• Oxygen/nitrogen content – Lower is better for high temperature strength
• Powder production method – Determines particle characteristics and capabilities
• Supplier capabilities – Quality systems, sampling, customer service

Work closely with niobium powder suppliers to obtain the optimal material for your process and components. Minor variations in powder properties can significantly impact manufacturing behavior.

FAQ

What is the benefit of niobium hydride powder?

Niobium hydride powders contain atomic hydrogen in solid solution. The hydrogen gives improved powder flow and compressibility compared to pure niobium for easier processing. The hydrogen leaves on heating, so the sintered properties match pure niobium.

How does particle shape influence niobium powder properties?

Spherical powder produced via gas atomization delivers higher and more uniform compressed and sintered density. Irregular powder morphologies benefit green strength for handling after pressing but give less predictable shrinkage behavior.

What affects the price of niobium powder?

Purity is the primary driver of pricing. More extensive refining to achieve higher niobium content costs more. Smaller particle sizes also command higher prices due to sieving requirements. Minimum order quantities can significantly impact per-kilogram pricing.

What niobium content is typical in superalloys?

Superalloys utilize 1-5% niobium additions to provide solid solution strengthening. Higher niobium levels compromise ductility and weldability. Common examples are Inconel 718, Inconel 625, and Waspaloy.

Why is flow rate an important powder characteristic?

Flow rate gives insight into how freely niobium powder flows under standardized conditions. Smooth powder flow allows precise filling of die cavities and improves handling. Lower flow rates indicate potential issues with segregation or caking.

What is the benefit of alloying niobium with titanium?

Additions of 10-50% titanium to niobium significantly increase strength while retaining excellent conductivity and superconductivity properties. Niobium-titanium alloys enable high-field MRI magnets and particle accelerators.

How is ferroniobium used in steelmaking?

As a master alloy containing 60-70% niobium, ferroniobium allows economical introduction of niobium into stainless and high-strength low alloy steels. Niobium is a powerful grain refiner and carbide former in steels.

Conclusion

With its unparalleled thermal stability, corrosion resistance, alloy potential, and superconductivity, niobium fills essential roles in demanding applications. Niobium powder provides engineers flexibility to employ advanced fabrication techniques and tune properties using alloying elements. As new uses emerge for niobium’s capabilities, suppliers continue advancing powder production and characterization.

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