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Zirconium and Niobium – Comparison – Properties

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of zirconium and niobium, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Zirconium vs Niobium.

zirconium and niobium - comparison

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Zirconium and Niobium – About Elements

Zirconium

Zirconium is a lustrous, grey-white, strong transition metal that resembles hafnium and, to a lesser extent, titanium. Zirconium is mainly used as a refractory and opacifier, although small amounts are used as an alloying agent for its strong resistance to corrosion. Zirconium is widely used as a cladding for nuclear reactor fuels. The desired properties of these alloys are a low neutron-capture cross-section and resistance to corrosion under normal service conditions.

Niobium

Niobium is a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, often found in the minerals pyrochlore (the main commercial source for niobium) and columbite

Zirconium in Periodic Table

Niobium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Zirconium and Niobium – Applications

Zirconium

Most zircon is used directly in high-temperature applications. This material is refractory, hard, and resistant to chemical attack. Because of these properties, zircon finds many applications, few of which are highly publicized. Its main use is as an opacifier, conferring a white, opaque appearance to ceramic materials. Zirconium and its alloys are widely used as a cladding for nuclear reactor fuels. Zirconium alloyed with niobium or tin has excellent corrosion properties. The high corrosion resistance of zirconium alloys results from the natural formation of a dense stable oxide on the surface of the metal. This film is self healing, it continues to grow slowly at temperatures up to approximately 550 °C (1020 °F), and it remains tightly adherent. The desired property of these alloys is also a low neutron-capture cross-section. The disadvantages of zirconium are low strength properties and low heat resistance, which can be eliminated, for example, by alloying with niobium.

Niobium

Niobium consumption is dominated by its use as additive to high strength low alloy steel and stainless steel for oil and gas pipelines, car and truck bodies, architectural requirements, tool steels, ships hulls, railroad tracks. However, there are a number of other applications for niobium metal and its compounds. Although niobium has many applications the majority is used in the production of high-grade structural steel. The second largest application for niobium is in nickel-based superalloys. Niobium-tin alloys are used as superconducting magnets.

Zirconium and Niobium – Comparison in Table

Element Zirconium Niobium
Density 6.511 g/cm3 8.57 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength 330 MPa 275 MPa
Yield Strength 230 MPa 70 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity 88 GPa 105 GPa
Mohs Scale 5 6
Brinell Hardness 650 MPa 740 MPa
Vickers Hardness 900 MPa 1300 MPa
Melting Point 1855 °C 2477 °C
Boiling Point 4377 °C 4744 °C
Thermal Conductivity 22.7 W/mK 53.7 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient 5.7 µm/mK 7.3 µm/mK
Specific Heat 0.27 J/g K 0.26 J/g K
Heat of Fusion 16.9 kJ/mol 26.4 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization 591 kJ/mol 682 kJ/mol