Vanadium in Rare High Melting Point Metals
Vanadium, symbol V, has the atomic number 23 on the Periodic Table of Elements. It is a silvery-grey metal with a melting point of 1,926° Celsius (3,499° Fahrenheit).[1] Its majority use is in the production of steel alloys, but it is also present in other high temperature alloys, oxides, and catalysts.
Vanadium was discovered in 1801 by the Spanish-Mexican mineralogist Andres Manuel del Rio. He isolated it from the brown lead ore of Mexico. He gave it the name “panchromium”, meaning “all colors”. The name was later changed to “vanadium” after the Norse goddess of beauty, Vanadis. It was not until 1831 that vanadium was successfully isolated in pure form by the Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefström.
Today, over 90% of the world’s vanadium is derived from vanadium oxides (V2O5) which are mined in South Africa, China, and Russia. A significant amount of vanadium is also produced as a by-product of steel production in places like Japan and the United States.
Vanadium is used in the production of specialty steels, tools, and alloys. The addition of vanadium to steel helps to increase its strength and corrosion resistance, making it valuable in the production of pipelines, armor plating, and structural components. The addition of vanadium to stainless steel also helps to increase its strength and ductility.
Vanadium is also used in the production of other alloys that are able to withstand particularly high temperatures. For example, an alloy of 60% nickel, 20% chromium, and 20% vanadium is used in jet engine components and gas turbines. The presence of vanadium in the alloy allows it to resist oxidation at temperatures up to 1204° Celsius (2200° Fahrenheit).
Vanadium is also used as a catalyst in the petrochemical industry, particularly in the production of sulfuric acid and maleic anhydride. Vanadium catalysts form strong oxidizing species which increase the reactivity and selectivity of the catalytic reaction, helping to make chemical processes more efficient.
The use of vanadium as an energy storage medium has also been explored in recent years. Vanadium redox flow batteries are rechargeable energy storage systems that are composed mostly of vanadium ions. They can store a large amount of energy and have a long life span, making them a promising technology for use in renewable energy applications.
Vanadium is a rare but valuable metal that is used in a wide range of high-temperature applications. Its addition to steel and other alloy helps to increase their strength and corrosion resistance, while its use as a catalyst enables more efficient chemical reactions. Vanadium is also being explored as an energy storage medium, making it a versatile and important component in many technological applications.
