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Niobium Tube
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Wall Thickness | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Length | Temper ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm | 0.5 mm to 13 mm | 1 mm to 16 mm | 10 mm to 1000 mm | Annealed As drawn |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
Niobium Tube (Nb, high purity) is a refractory metal tube supplied in As Drawn and Annealed tempers, uniquely qualified for superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity fabrication by the combination of the highest elemental superconducting transition temperature and the ductility and weldability that precision tube-forming operations require:
Highest elemental superconducting transition temperature at 9.25 K
Niobium is a Type II elemental superconductor with a transition temperature of approximately 9.25 K, the highest of any elemental metal. This makes it the material of first choice for SRF cavities in particle accelerators and structural tube elements in superconducting magnet systems, where the superconducting transition temperature sets the liquid helium operating temperature required and determines the energy efficiency of the accelerator cooling system.
Good ductility and formability relative to other refractory metals
Niobium is substantially more ductile than tungsten and molybdenum at room temperature, allowing the precision tube-forming operations (deep drawing, spinning, and hydroforming) required to produce the complex elliptical cell geometries of SRF cavities from tube preforms. This ductility advantage over other refractory metals is the primary reason niobium dominates SRF cavity fabrication.
Electron beam weldability for SRF cavity assembly
Niobium’s weldability by electron beam welding in vacuum (the standard joining process for SRF cavity assembly) allows tube preforms to be formed and electron beam welded into complete cavity structures with the joint quality required for superconducting surface performance. Most other refractory metals are difficult or impractical to electron beam weld to the quality required for SRF applications.
Annealed temper for full plasticity in forming and welding
The Annealed temper fully restores the plasticity consumed in the tube drawing process, providing maximum ductility for deep-drawing and spinning operations that form tube stock into SRF cavity cells, and eliminating residual stress that could affect electron beam weld quality or introduce preferential recrystallization during cavity annealing.
As Drawn temper for elevated strength in structural tube applications
The As Drawn temper retains cold work from the drawing process, providing elevated tensile strength for structural tube applications in cryogenic fluid transfer systems, superconducting magnet assemblies, and quantum device enclosures where the tube must carry mechanical loads in addition to providing the superconducting or cryogenic service function.
Industrial Applications
Niobium tube is used wherever the highest elemental superconducting transition temperature combined with the ductility and weldability needed for precision tube-forming and electron beam welding are simultaneously required:
- ✦ SRF cavity component fabrication in particle accelerators
- Used for superconducting radiofrequency cavity fabrication in particle accelerators, where the combination of the highest elemental superconducting transition temperature, tube-forming ductility for cavity cell shaping from tube preforms, and electron beam weldability for cavity assembly from formed cell components makes niobium tube the standard material for SRF cavity production worldwide.
- ✦ Cryogenic fluid transfer tube elements in superconducting magnet systems
- Applied as cryogenic fluid transfer tubes in superconducting magnet systems, where the combination of superconducting properties at the liquid helium operating temperature, corrosion resistance to liquid helium and cryogenic process fluids, and mechanical strength of the As Drawn temper qualifies niobium tube for structural cryogenic fluid transfer functions within the superconducting magnet assembly.
- ✦ Structural tube elements in low-temperature quantum device assemblies
- Used as structural tube elements in low-temperature quantum device assemblies, where operating temperatures near or below the niobium superconducting transition temperature, the requirement for low magnetic permeability, and the need for precision-formed tube components support the selection of niobium over other refractory metal tube alternatives.
- ✦ Fundamental superconductivity and vortex dynamics studies
- Applied in research for fundamental superconductivity and vortex dynamics studies in tube-form Type II superconductors, where the well-defined composition, established superconducting parameters, and tube geometry of niobium provide a controlled specimen form for magnetic flux penetration, vortex pinning, and critical current characterization experiments.
- ✦ SRF cavity surface treatment and quantum device component fabrication research
- Used in research for SRF cavity surface preparation and performance investigation, including electropolishing, buffered chemical polishing, and nitrogen-doping treatment studies on tube-geometry niobium specimens, and for quantum device component fabrication where tube geometry is required alongside the niobium superconducting transition temperature.
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
| Outside Diameter | =<2mm | ±0.05mm |
|---|---|---|
| Outside Diameter | 2mm - 5mm | ±0.1mm |
| Outside Diameter | >5mm | ±5% |
| Wall Thickness | ±10% | |
| Length | <100mm | ±1mm |
| Length | >=100mm | +5% / -1% |