Codex entry·Ores
Niobium node
Entries
- Entry 1
Niobium occurs mainly in oxide minerals of the pyrochlore group, commonly associated with carbonatites and alkaline igneous complexes. The world's largest known deposits occur in Brazil and Canada.
- Entry 2
Small additions of niobium give high-strength low-alloy steels greater strength and toughness without requiring large amounts of alloying metal. Most niobium is consumed as ferroniobium by the steel industry.
- Entry 3
Pure niobium becomes superconducting below about 9.2 K, the highest critical temperature of any elemental superconductor at atmospheric pressure. Niobium-titanium wire is widely used in powerful superconducting magnets.