Oxides and residues
Off-grade oxide, dusts and residues are valued on their Nb₂O₅ content and on what has to come out. Tantalum, iron, fluoride and other impurities decide the route and the price.
Metals · Nb · 41
Niobium
Niobium is mined mainly from pyrochlore, which accounts for most of the world's supply, and from columbite and tantalite. Scrap and process residues are a small but interesting secondary source. Niobium goes into steel, oxides, powders and alloys and is moving into high-temperature parts and new energy technologies. We trade it at every stage of the value chain and advise the companies that produce and use it.
41NbNiobium92.906
- Atomic number
- 41
- Melting point
- 2477 °C
- Density
- 8.57 g/cm³
Niobium is tantalum's lighter sister: chemically similar, often mined together, but about half as dense. By volume, most of it goes into steel as ferroniobium, and most primary supply comes from Brazil. Our focus is on the rest of the market: niobium recycling, high-purity niobium oxide, and powders for additive manufacturing. Looking ahead, niobium alloys such as C103 are pushing into higher temperatures in aerospace and turbines, and niobium is gaining ground in energy, in fast-charging battery anodes and in the superconducting magnets of fusion research.
From ore to product
- 01
Concentration
Pyrochlore ore is concentrated by flotation.
- 02
Ferroniobium
Aluminothermic reduction turns most of the concentrate directly into ferroniobium for steelmaking.
- 03
Chemical route
For high purity, niobium is dissolved, separated by solvent extraction and precipitated as niobium oxide (Nb₂O₅).
- 04
Metal and alloys
Reduction of the oxide and electron-beam melting give niobium metal; vacuum arc or electron-beam melting produces alloys such as C103.
- 05
Powders and products
Hydride-dehydride processing or atomisation gives powders; ingots become sheet, wire and parts.
What matters in a deal
Alloy scrap
C103 and other alloy scrap must be kept separate by alloy. Mixed lots lose most of their value.
Powders for AM
Particle size distribution, flowability and oxygen content decide whether a powder runs in a given printer and process.
Questions
What is niobium used for?
By volume, mostly ferroniobium for high-strength steel. Outside steel, niobium oxide goes into optical glass, electronic ceramics and battery materials; niobium metal and powders go into superalloys, the thruster alloy C103, superconducting wire (NbTi, Nb₃Sn) and additively manufactured parts.
Can niobium be recycled?
Yes. Clean alloy scrap such as C103 is remelted. Off-grade oxide, dusts and process residues go back into the chemical route and return as oxide or metal. Niobium in steel goes round with steel scrap and is not recovered separately.
How do I reach Refraxys about material or a project?
Send a short description of your material or your requirement, an analysis if you have one, the quantity and the location to info@refraxys.com, or call us. You speak directly to the person who decides.
Contact
Material to sell, supply to find?
Send us a short description, an analysis if you have one, the quantity and the location. You speak directly to the person who decides.
Dr.-Ing. Ole Brettschneider
Founder & Managing Director