Stainless steels niobium

It is used in arc-welding rods for stabilized grades of stainless steel. Thousands of pounds of niobium have been used in advanced air frame systems such as were used in the Gemini space program. The element has superconductive properties superconductive magnets have been... 

AISI 321 and 347 are stainless steels that contain titanium and niobium iu order to stabilize the carbides (qv). These metals prevent iatergranular precipitation of carbides during service above 480°C, which can otherwise render the stainless steels susceptible to iatergranular corrosion. Grades such as AISI 316 and 317 contain 2—4% of molybdenum, which iacreases their creep—mpture strength appreciably. In the AISI 200 series, chromium—manganese austenitic stainless steels the nickel content is reduced iu comparison to the AISI 300 series. 

Addition of niobium to austenitic stainless steels inhibits intergranular corrosion by forming niobium carbide with the carbon that is present in the steel. Without the niobium addition, chromium precipitates as a chromium carbide film at the grain boundaries and thus depletes the adjacent areas of chromium and reduces the corrosion resistance. An amount of niobium equal to 10 times the carbon content is necessary to prevent precipitation of the chromium carbide. 

SS = stainless steel Pt may be platinised titanium or platinised niobium. 

Stainless Steel There are more than 70 standard types of stainless steel and many special alloys. These steels are produced in the wrought form (AISI types) and as cast alloys [Alloy Casting Institute (ACI) types]. Gener y, all are iron-based, with 12 to 30 percent chromium, 0 to 22 percent nickel, and minor amounts of carbon, niobium (columbium), copper, molybdenum, selenium, tantalum, and titanium. These alloys are veiy popular in the process industries. They are heat- and corrosion-resistant, noncontaminating, and easily fabricated into complex shapes. 

Specify stabilized grades of stainless steel. An alternative method to prevent chromium carbide formation is to charge the alloy with substances whose affinity for carbon is greater than that of chromium. These substances will react preferentially with the carbon, preventing chromium carbide formation and thereby leaving the chromium uniformly distributed in the metal. The carbon content of the alloy does not have to be reduced if sufficient quantities of these stabilizing elements are present. Titanium is used to produce one stabilized alloy (321) and niobium is used to provide another (347). Note the cautions below. 

Other interesting thin-film studies using AES have included the growth of platinum on Ti02- and SrO-terminated (100) SrTiOs single-crystal substrates [2.154], of epitaxial niobium films on (110) T1O2 [2.155], the interaction of copper with a (0001) rhenium surface [2.156], and the characterization of radio-frequency (rf) sputtered TiN films on stainless steel [2.157]. 

Niobium finds use in the production of numerous stainless steels for use at high temperatures, and Nb/Zr wires are used in superconducting magnets. The extreme corrosion-resistance of tantalum at normal temperatures (due to the presence of an exceptionally tenacious film of oxide) leads to its application in the construction of chemical plant, especially where it can be used as a liner inside cheaper metals. Its complete inertness to body fluids makes it the ideal material for surgical use in bone repair and internal suturing. 

A somewhat similar phenomenon is knife-line attack which may be observed after welding titanium or niobium stabilised austenitic stainless steels. In this case there is a very narrow band of severe intergranular attack along the interface between the parent metal and the fusion zone. During welding, the parent metal immediately adjacent to the fusion zone is heated to just below the melting point and both chromium carbides and niobium or titanium carbides dissolve completely. On cooling rapidly, the conditions are such that when relatively thin sections are welded, neither chromium carbide nor niobium or titanium carbide have time to precipitate. If the weld is now... 

The basic corrosion behaviour of stainless steels is dependent upon the type and quantity of alloying. Chromium is the universally present element but nickel, molybdenum, copper, nitrogen, vanadium, tungsten, titanium and niobium are also used for a variety of reasons. However, all elements can affect metallurgy, and thus mechanical and physical properties, so sometimes desirable corrosion resisting aspects may involve acceptance of less than ideal mechanical properties and vice versa. 

Niobium is always found in nature associated with tantalum and it closely resembles tantalum in its chemical and mechanical properties. It is a soft ductile metal which, like tantalum, work hardens more slowly than most metals. It will in fact absorb over 90% cold work before annealing becomes necessary, and it is easily formed at room temperature. In addition, welds of high quality can be produced in the metal. In appearance the metal is somewhat similar to stainless steel it has a density slightly higher than stainless steel and a thermal conductivity similar to 1% carbon steel. 

Loop Tests Loop test installations vary widely in size and complexity, but they may be divided into two major categories (c) thermal-convection loops and (b) forced-convection loops. In both types, the liquid medium flows through a continuous loop or harp mounted vertically, one leg being heated whilst the other is cooled to maintain a constant temperature across the system. In the former type, flow is induced by thermal convection, and the flow rate is dependent on the relative heights of the heated and cooled sections, on the temperature gradient and on the physical properties of the liquid. The principle of the thermal convective loop is illustrated in Fig. 19.26. This method was used by De Van and Sessions to study mass transfer of niobium-based alloys in flowing lithium, and by De Van and Jansen to determine the transport rates of nitrogen and carbon between vanadium alloys and stainless steels in liquid sodium. 

Cihal, etal presented early data on the effects of chromium, nickel, molybdenum, titanium, niobium and silicon on the passive behaviour of stainless steel. 

Chemical analysis of niobium oxide indicated that the purity of the final product depends strongly on the purity of the initial solution. Account should be taken of about 0.02-0.03% wt. cationic impurities, introduced due to interactions with metal parts of the equipment. The main added impurities are Fe, Ni, Cr, which originate mostly from the stainless steel filter. The purity of the final product can be significantly increased by using a filter made of niobium or other appropriate material. Nevertheless, the material obtained using a stainless steel filter is sufficient for use in ceramic applications or as an initial material for carbide manufacture. 

Alloys other than those shown in Figure 1 are also suitable for resisting high temperature hydrogen attack. These include modifled carbon steels and low alloy steels to which carbide stabilizing elements (molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, titanium, or niobium) have been added. European alloys and heat-treating practices have been summarized by Class.11 Austenitic stainless steels are resistant to decarburization even at temperatures above 1000°F (538°C).12... 

Nuclear and magneto-hydrodynamic electric power generation systems have been produced on a scale which could lead to industrial production, but to-date technical problems, mainly connected with corrosion of the containing materials, has hampered full-scale development. In the case of nuclear power, the proposed fast reactor, which uses fast neutron fission in a small nuclear fuel element, by comparison with fuel rods in thermal neutron reactors, requires a more rapid heat removal than is possible by water cooling, and a liquid sodium-potassium alloy has been used in the development of a near-industrial generator. The fuel container is a vanadium sheath with a niobium outer cladding, since this has a low fast neutron capture cross-section and a low rate of corrosion by the liquid metal coolant. The liquid metal coolant is transported from the fuel to the turbine generating the electric power in stainless steel... 

Chromium iron manganese brown spinel, formula and DCMA number, 7 348t Chromium iron nickel black spinel, formula and DCMA number, 7 348t Chromium isotopes, 6 476 Chromium magnesium oxide, 5 583 Chromium manganese zinc brown spinel, formula and DCMA number, 7 348t Chromium-nickel alloys, 77 100-101 Chromium-nickel-iron alloys, 17 102-103 Chromium-nickel stainless steels, 15 563 Chromium niobium titanium buff rutile, formula and DCMA number, 7 347t Chromium(III) nitrate, 6 533 Chromium nitride, 4 668... 

Ninhydrin, 22 101 Ninhydrin-color reaction amino acids, 2 570 Niobates, 27 152-153 24 315 Niobia-phosphate catalytic aerogels, 2 763t Niobic acid, 27 152 Niobic salts, 27 152-153 Niobium (Nb), 27.132-157 24 313, 315. See also Nb-Ti entries Niobium compounds Niobium metal analytical methods for, 27 142-144 dissolution methods for, 27 142 economic aspects of, 27 140-142 effect on stainless steel corrosion resistance, 7 809... 

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