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Niobium Rod
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Diameter | Length | Temper ⓘ |
|---|---|---|
| 1.25 mm to 100 mm | 10 mm to 1000 mm | Annealed |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
Niobium Rod (99.9% purity) is supplied in the annealed condition, combining a melting point of 2,468 °C and a body-centred cubic structure with the highest superconducting critical temperature of any elemental metal:
Highest Tc of Any Elemental Metal (9.25 K)
Niobium is superconducting in elemental form with a critical temperature of 9.25 K, the highest of any element. In bulk rod form this is the basis for machined superconducting resonator components and RF cavity fabrication in particle accelerators.
Low Neutron Absorption Cross-Section (1.15 barns)
A thermal neutron absorption cross-section of 1.15 barns is among the lowest of structural metals, minimising activation under neutron flux and supporting use in nuclear reactor components where neutron economy and low induced radioactivity are requirements.
Self-Passivating Oxide Surface Film
A spontaneously forming niobium pentoxide film provides corrosion resistance across a wide range of chemical environments, including mineral acids and liquid metals, without surface treatment.
Annealed: 330 MPa Tensile Strength, Good Machinability
The annealed condition delivers 330 MPa tensile strength with good ductility, providing machinable stock for high-temperature experimental components without the brittleness that limits many other refractory metals.
Body-Centred Cubic Structure
The BCC structure gives niobium good ductility in the annealed condition, allowing it to be machined to precise geometries and formed into complex components.
Industrial Applications
Niobium Rod is used wherever its unique combination of elemental superconductivity, low neutron absorption, and refractory corrosion resistance determines material selection:
- ✦ Superconducting RF Cavity Fabrication
- Provides starting stock for machining superconducting resonator components and RF cavities in particle accelerators, where the elemental critical temperature of 9.25 K and machinability in the annealed condition are both essential.
- ✦ Cryogenic Physics Research
- Used as machinable stock for custom superconducting components in cryogenic physics, where bulk elemental superconductivity and dimensional precision support custom cavity and resonator fabrication.
- ✦ Nuclear Reactor Components
- Applied where a thermal neutron absorption cross-section of 1.15 barns minimises neutron flux perturbation and activation, and corrosion resistance in liquid metal and aqueous environments supports long-term structural integrity.
- ✦ Chemical Processing Equipment
- Used in corrosion-resistant structural components and reaction vessels in mineral acid and liquid metal service environments, where the self-passivating oxide film provides long-term protection.
- ✦ Sputtering Target Feedstock
- Applied as feedstock for sputtering target fabrication and in studies of refractory metal deformation and phase behaviour.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 41 |
| Crystal structure | Body centred cubic |
| Electronic structure | Kr 4d⁴ 5s¹ |
| Valences shown | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Atomic weight( amu ) | 92.9064 |
| Thermal neutron absorption cross-section( Barns ) | 1.15 |
| Photo-electric work function( eV ) | 4.3 |
| Atomic radius - Goldschmidt( nm ) | 0.147 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 3/ 25.0 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 2/ 14.3 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 6/ 103 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 1/ 6.88 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 4/ 38.3 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 5/ 50.5 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Material condition | Hard |
| Material condition | Soft |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.397 |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.397 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 170.3 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 170.3 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 104.9 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 104.9 |
| Izod toughness( J m⁻¹ ) | 10-120 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 115 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 160 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 330 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 585 |
| Yield strength( MPa ) | 550 |
| Yield strength( MPa ) | 240 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 16@20°C |
| Superconductivity critical temperature( K ) | 9.25 |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | 0.0026@0-100°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Boiling point( C ) | 4742 |
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 8.57@20°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting point( C ) | 2468 |
| Latent heat of evaporation( J g⁻¹ ) | 7360 |
| Latent heat of fusion( J g⁻¹ ) | 290 |
| Specific heat( J K⁻¹ kg⁻¹ ) | 268@25°C |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 53.7@0-100°C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 7.2@0-100°C |
Tolerances
| Diameter | =<10mm | ±10% |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | >10mm | ±5% |
| Length | <100mm | ±1mm |
| Length | >=100mm | +5 / -1% |