Why niobium is used in superconductors?

Niobium‑titanium (NbTi) is an alloy of niobium and titanium used industrially as a type II superconductor for superconducting magnets. Its critical temperature is about 9.7 K [1]. NbTi alloys are suitable for fabricating superconducting magnets, with magnetic fields up to about 10 T [2].

Is niobium a type 1 superconductor?

While most elemental superconductors are type-I, niobium, vanadium, and technetium are elemental type-II superconductors. Boron-doped diamond and silicon are also type-II superconductors.

What is niobium titanium used for?

Niobium Titanium is a superconducting alloy typically used in superconducting magnets and wires in particle colliders, aerospace components, and other applications. NbTi is available in standard and custom compositions and forms such as wire, sheet, bars, tubing, and sputtering target.

Is niobium poisonous or hazardous?

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.

Why is niobium added to steel?

1. Niobium added to steel refines remarkably the cast structure and austenite structure of steel. With an addition of niobium, the coarsening temperature of austenite-grains will rise. For example, in the case of 0.03 to 004% niobium addition, the coarsening temperature rises by approximately 160°C and reaches 1050°C.

Is niobium rare?

Niobium is a rare metal found in numerous locations around the world in rocks of volcanic origin. It is relatively difficult to find and is produced from pyrochlore and tantalite ores, and as a by-product of mining for other minerals.

What are 4 properties of niobium?

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

PHASE — Solid.
STD ATOMIC WEIGHT — Solid.
STD ATOMIC WEIGHT — 92.90638(2) g-mol-1.
MELTING TEMPERATURE — 2750 K, 2477° C, 4491° F.
BOILING POINT — 5017 K, 4744° C, 8571° F.
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE — Body Centered Cubic.
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY — (0 °C) 152 nΩ·m.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY — (300 K) 53.7 W·m−1·K−1.

Where do we use superconductors?

Uses of Superconductors

Efficient Electricity Transportation.
Magnetic Levitation.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Synchrotrons and Cyclotrons (Particle Colliders)
Fast Electronic Switches.
Finding Out More…

How is niobium used as a superconducting material?

Niobium titanium superconducting material can be made into a variety of compound practical materials by conventional deformation and heat treatment process. Used in a 2-8t medium and low magnetic field, the amount of raw materials and manufacturing costs are much lower than other superconductors and other manufacturing technologies.

How big is the magnetic field of niobium?

With a maximal critical magnetic field of about 15 teslas, Nb-Ti alloys are suitable for fabricating supermagnets generating magnetic fields up to about 10 teslas. For higher magnetic fields, higher-performance, but more expensive and less easily fabricated superconductors, such as niobium-tin, are commonly employed.

Which is the highest critical temperature of niobium?

Therefore, further research and discovery in this area is expected. Niobium becomes a superconductor at cryogenic temperatures. At atmospheric pressure, it has the highest critical temperature of the elemental superconductors at 9.2 K. Niobium has the greatest magnetic penetration depth of any element.

What are the properties of high purity niobium?

Vacuum System I9 Electron Bombardment 21 Emission Current Control 25 Samples 25 CRYOGEN.C APPARATUS 3O Sample Motion Magnetometer 3O Coil Motion Magnetometer for Work Above 4.2°K 32 Sample Motion Magnetometer for Work Above 4.2°K 3% Temperature Control and Measurement 35 Calibration of the Germanium Resistor 40 Magnetic Field 41