Niobium is a shiny-white, soft, metallic chemical element; its symbol is
Nb. The name of the element is derived from the Greek mythological "Niobe",
the daughter of Tantalus. Niobium has an atomic number of 41 and an atomic
weight of 92.9064. A ductile metal, it has a melting point of 2,468 deg C
(474.4 deg F), a boiling point of 4,742 deg C (8,567.6 deg F), and a density
8.51 g/cu cm at 20 deg C (68 deg F).
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Charles Hatchett discovered the element in 1801 in a sample of
ore sent to England more than a hundred years earlier by the first governor of
Connecticut. The metallic element was first prepared in 1864 by Christian
Blomstrand of Sweden by reduction of the heated chloride in a stream of
hydrogen. Despite the adoption of the name niobium by the International
union of Pure and Applied Chemistry , the alternative name columbium is still
used by metallurgists in the United States.
Niobium is found worldwide, and principal commercial sources are
niobite (columbite), niobitetantalite. It looks like steel or,
when polished, like platinum. It resists corrosion, is a good
shock absorber, and can withstand very high temperatures. Because of its corrosion resistance
and standing high temp. It is used as and alloy for building and
repairing airplanes. Among its many industrial applications
niobium in small amounts is used in alloys. The presence of niobium
makes hot-pressured dies and cutting tools resistant to shock and wear.
Its conductivity makes it useful in electronic devices and
super-conductive magnets. If combined with nickel, it makes a
high temperature alloy; added with iron to stainless steel, it
offers stability on welding or heating. Niobium is also used in high-strength
structural steel. Nuclear reactor cores are constructed with niobium
alloys because niobium alloys because niobium does not react chemically
with uranium and because again, it is resistant to corrosion.
Niobium is a member of a small family of metals known as
refractory metals. All the color you will see is purely refracted
light: no dyes, color or paints are used. The thickness of the oxide
determines the color you see and allows us to express design
in color and pattern. We use an electrochemical oxidation process
(water and electricity) to control the oxide build-up and therefor
control the color. This refractory element (along with Titanium)
is frequently used in artificial joints, plates, pacemakers and dental implants.
It is he safest metal you can wear.
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