Niobium

The estimated amount of Niobium (Nb) in the Earth's crust is thought to last for the next five centuries.

The estimated amount of Niobium (Nb) in the Earth's crust is thought to last for the next five centuries.

Nb is a silver-colored metal that is highly resistant to corrosion. It is an essential component of alloys that are of application in the industry for the manufacture of stainless steel.

The alloys of Nb are the raw material for the production of rockets and jet engines, rafters and beams for oil rigs and buildings, and pipelines of oil and gas. The compounds of niobium oxide fuse with glass for enhancing the refractive index and manufacturing lenses.

The superconducting properties of niobium enable it to of use in the production of superconducting magnets for MRI scanners, particle accelerators, and equipment for NMR.