Applications
Niobium is used for the production of high-temperature-resistant alloys and
special stainless steels. Small amounts of Niobium impart greater strenght to
other metals, especially those that are exposed to low temperatures. Niobium
carbide is used in cutting tools. It is used in stainless steel alloys for
nuclear reactors, jets, missiles, cutting tools, pipelines, super magnets and
welding rods.
Niobium-tin and Niobium-Titanium alloys are used as wires for superconducting
magnets capable of producing exceedingly strong magnetic fields. Niobium is also
used its pure form to make superconducting accelerating structures for particle
accelerators. Niobium alloys are used in surgical implants because they do not
react with human tissue.
Niobium in the envIronment
Plants generally show only traces of Niobium and many have none at all, although
some mosses and lichens can contain 0.45 ppm. However, plant growing near
Niobium deposits can accumulate the metal to levels above 1 ppm.
Niobium was mined chifely as columbite, and is formerly known as colombium (Cb).
Another mined metal is pyrochlore and this is now the most important. The main
mining areas are Brazil, which produce more than 85% on the world's Niobium,
Zaire, Russia, Nigeria and Canada. World production is around 25.000 tonnes per
year. The amount of unmined reserves is not known, but there are extensive
deposits of pytochlore.
Health effects of Niobium
Niobium and its compounds may be toxic (Niobium dust causes eye and skin
irritation) , but there are no reports of human being poisoned by it. Apart from
measuring its concentration, no research on Niobium in humans has been
undertaken.
Niobium, when inhaled, is retained mainly in the lungs, and secondarily in
bones. It interferes with Calcium as an activator of enzyme systems. In
laboratory animals, inhalation of Niobium nitride and/or pentoxide leads to
scarring of the lungs at exposure levels of 40 mg/m3.
Environmental effects of Niobium
No negative Environmental effects have been reported.
