Niobium alloy
Niobium alloy
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  • Niobium alloy
  • Niobium alloy
Niobium alloy

The classification of niobium alloys is centered on alloy composition systems and application characteristics. The mainstream categories include pure niobium grades, high-strength niobium-based alloys (such as niobium-tungsten, niobium-zirconium, and niobium-titanium), as well as superconducting, corrosion-resistant, and high-temperature specialty niobium alloys. Domestic grades begin with the letter "Nb," while internationally recognized standards such as ASTM and ISO are widely used. Different grades exhibit significant differences in terms of high-temperature strength, superconducting performance, and corrosion resistance. Below is a detailed classification of mainstream domestic and international grades, covering key sectors including aerospace, superconductivity, nuclear industry, and electronics.

Category

Alloy system

Grade

Core ingredient (%)

Core Features

Application scenarios

Corresponding to foreign standards/common grades

Pure niobium

Pure Niobium Series

Nb1

Nb≥99.95

High purity, low impurities, excellent plasticity

Superconducting cavities, electron-beam coating targets, high-purity chemical fittings

ASTM B394 Nb-1, JIS Nb99.95, Russian GOST Nb1

Pure niobium

Pure Niobium Series

Nb2

Nb≥99.8

High cost performance and good processing performance.

Chemical heat exchangers, vacuum devices, welding electrodes

ASTM B394 Nb-2, JIS Nb99.8, Russian GOST Nb2

Pure niobium

Pure Niobium Series

Nb3

Nb≥99.9

Purity between Nb1 and Nb2

Precision instrument components, low-temperature seals

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Niobium-tungsten-zirconium alloy (Nb-W-Zr)

NbW10Zr1

Nb+10W+1Zr

High strength at elevated temperatures, creep resistance, and good ductility at intermediate temperatures.

Aeroengine combustion chamber and nozzle liner

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Niobium-tungsten-zirconium alloy (Nb-W-Zr)

NbW15Zr0.5

Nb+15W+0.5Zr

Excellent ultra-high temperature strength

High-temperature structural components for rocket engines

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Niobium-tungsten-zirconium alloy (Nb-W-Zr)

NbW20Zr2

Nb+20W+2Zr

Good stability under extreme high temperatures, with a slight decrease in plasticity.

Thermal protection components for aerospace vehicles

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Niobium-tungsten-zirconium alloy (Nb-W-Zr)

NbHf10Zr1 (C103)

Nb+10Hf+1Zr+0.1C

Excellent high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance

High-end, high-temperature components for the aerospace industry

ASTM High-Temperature Niobium Alloy C103, EN 10205 C103

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Niobium-titanium alloy (Nb-Ti)

NbTi46.5

Ti46.5, the remainder is Nb

High critical magnetic field, stable superconducting performance, low cost.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) magnets, superconducting cables, particle accelerators

ASTM Niobium-Titanium Alloy NbTi46.5, ISO 14344 NbTi46.5

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Niobium-titanium alloy (Nb-Ti)

NbTi50

Ti50, the rest is Nb

Higher superconducting critical temperature

High-end superconducting equipment, magnets for fusion devices

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Other high-strength niobium-based alloys

NbMo10

Mo10, the remainder is Nb.

High-temperature resistance and resistance to liquid metal corrosion

Nuclear reactor cooling components, metallurgical liquid metal containers

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Other high-strength niobium-based alloys

NbMo25

Mo25, the rest are Nb.

High-temperature resistance and resistance to liquid metal corrosion

Nuclear reactor cooling components, metallurgical liquid metal containers

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Other high-strength niobium-based alloys

NbTa10

Ta10, the rest are Nb.

Good corrosion resistance and excellent high-temperature stability

Equipment for highly corrosive chemical media, high-temperature aerospace components

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Other high-strength niobium-based alloys

NbTa20

Ta20, the rest are Nb.

Good corrosion resistance and excellent high-temperature stability

Equipment for highly corrosive chemical media, high-temperature aerospace components

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Other high-strength niobium-based alloys

NbZr1

Zr1, the rest is Nb.

Good plasticity, thermal shock resistance

Vacuum furnace heating element, welding filler material

-

High-strength niobium-based alloy

Other high-strength niobium-based alloys

NbZr2

Zr2, the rest are Nb.

Good plasticity, thermal shock resistance

Vacuum furnace heating element, welding filler material

-

Special niobium alloy

High-antioxidation niobium alloy

Nb21s

Nb+10W+10Ta+1Zr

High antioxidant properties, excellent high-temperature strength

High-temperature blades for aeroengines

ASTM Nb21s

Special niobium alloy

High-antioxidation niobium alloy

FS-85

Nb+28Ta+10W+1Zr

High antioxidant properties, excellent high-temperature strength

High-temperature blades for aeroengines

-

Special niobium alloy

Superconducting niobium alloy

Nb3Sn

Intermetallic compound (Nb₃Sn)

Critical superconducting temperature and high magnetic field

Large-scale superconducting magnets, nuclear fusion devices (tokamaks)

-

Special niobium alloy

Superconducting niobium alloy

Nb3Al

Intermetallic compound (Nb₃Al)

Critical superconducting temperature and high magnetic field

Large-scale superconducting magnets, fusion devices

-

Special niobium alloy

Corrosion-resistant niobium alloy

NbNi3

Ni3, the rest are Nb.

Excellent acid and alkali corrosion resistance

Chemical highly corrosive reaction vessels, electroplating equipment

-

Special niobium alloy

Corrosion-resistant niobium alloy

NbCr5

Cr5, the remainder is Nb.

Excellent resistance to acid and alkali corrosion, and wear resistance.

Chemical highly corrosive reaction vessels, electroplating equipment

-

Special niobium alloy

Niobium-hafnium alloy

NbHf5

Hf5, the rest are Nb.

High strength at elevated temperatures and excellent creep resistance.

Aerospace Ultra-High Temperature Components

-

Special niobium alloy

Niobium-hafnium alloy

NbHf10

Hf10, the rest are Nb.

High strength at elevated temperatures and excellent creep resistance.

Aerospace Ultra-High Temperature Components

-

 

Additional notes
1. The two niobium alloy grades with the largest industrial applications are: Nb2 (pure niobium, primarily used in general corrosion-resistant and electronic applications) and NbTi46.5 (a superconducting niobium alloy that accounts for over 80% of the superconducting materials market).
2. C103 (domestic NbHf10Zr1) is a benchmark grade of high-temperature niobium alloy, with significantly superior high-temperature performance compared to conventional niobium-tungsten alloys, and is widely used in advanced aerospace equipment.
3. The international standards provide comprehensive coverage, with ASTM, ISO, and EN standards tailored to core grades, meeting global trade and high-end equipment procurement needs.

Comparison of Mainstream Foreign Standard Grades

1. U.S. ASTM: Pure niobium (Nb-1, Nb-2), niobium-titanium alloy (NbTi46.5), high-temperature niobium alloys (C103, Nb21s);
2. International ISO: ISO 14344 includes core grades such as Nb-1, Nb-2, and NbTi46.5, serving as a globally recognized standard for trade;
3. European EN: EN 10205 specifies pure niobium Nb99.95, Nb99.8, and high-temperature niobium alloy C103.

Summary of Core Grades

Alloy Category Core Representative Grade Core Advantages Main Application Fields
Pure niobium Nb1 and Nb2—high ductility, excellent corrosion resistance, and good electrical conductivity—suitable for electronics, chemical engineering, and vacuum devices.
Superconducting niobium alloys NbTi46.5 and Nb3Sn exhibit stable superconducting properties and high critical magnetic fields—ideal for nuclear magnetic resonance, superconducting cables, and nuclear fusion applications.
High-temperature niobium alloys C103 and NbW10Zr1 exhibit high strength and excellent creep resistance, making them ideal for aerospace and rocket engine applications.

 

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