Mineral's yearbook, 1990: Columbium (niobium) and tantalum. Annual report

Technical Report · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5583660

Cunningham, L D

Columbium is vital as an alloying element in steels and in superalloys for aircraft turbine engines and is in greatest demand in industrialized countries. Tantalum is used mostly in the electronics industry, mainly in capacitors, and in aerospace and transportation applications. The United States continued to be dependent on imports of columbium and tantalum materials, with Brazil remaining the major source for columbium imports and the Federal Republic of Germany the major source for tantalum imports. Columbium price quotations were unchanged for the year, and tantalum prices remained stable. The National Defense Stockpile (NDS) requirement (goal) for the columbium group nearly tripled in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991. Also, to ensure future availability to the United States, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) awarded contracts for purchase of tantalum minerals for the NDS. Overall reported consumption of columbium in the form of ferrocolumbium and nickel columbium rose slightly, with demand for columbium in superalloys at the highest level since 1986. Tantalum consumption was up for the year, aided by increased demand from the electronics industry.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5583660
• Report Number(s): PB-92-156538/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
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