Who discovered niobium and when was it first identified?
English chemist Charles Hatchett identified a new element within the ore in 1801. He named the substance columbium after Columbia, the poetic name for the United States.
Questions about Niobium
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did international bodies officially adopt the name niobium instead of columbium?
The 15th Conference of the Union of Chemistry chose niobium in Amsterdam during 1949. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry officially adopted the name shortly thereafter.
Which countries produce the majority of global niobium supply today?
Brazil dominates global production through massive pyrochlore deposits located in Araxá and Catalão. These two mines account for approximately 88 percent of worldwide supply.
What is the primary industrial application of mined niobium?
Over 90 percent of mined niobium finds its way into steel production to enhance strength and toughness. This single application dwarfs all other uses combined by improving weldability and mechanical performance.
How does niobium function as a superconductor at cryogenic temperatures?
At cryogenic temperatures the element becomes a superconductor with the highest critical temperature among all elemental superconductors at atmospheric pressure. It holds the greatest magnetic penetration depth of any known element while ranking alongside vanadium and technetium as one of three type II superconductors.