Applications of molybdenum
Metallurgy and metalworking
About ¾ of molybdenum mined is used to alloy steels and heat-resistant alloys. It increases strength and heat resistance of metals and eliminates brittleness. Such alloys serve as basis for refractory corrosion-resistant structural materials in aerospace industry and nuclear power engineering. Molybdenum piercing mandrels are used for piercing seamless stainless and steel pipes and for drilling steels.
| Atomic number Mo | Atomic (molar) mass g/mol | Oxidation state | Density [g/cm3] | Melting point t°C | Boiling point t ° C | Melting point kJ/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № 42 | 96 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | 10,22 | 2617°С | 4612°С | 28 |
MIC
Production of cladding for missile heads and parts of supersonic aircraft. Molybdenum and its alloys are refractory materials, which are used in two variants. In the first one, these metals are only heat shields, separated from the main structural material by heat insulation. In the other option, they serve as the main structural element. Molybdenum is inferior to tungsten and its alloys in terms of strength characteristics. But it is lighter and leads in terms of specific strength at temperatures below 1350-1400°C. The most common for the production of cladding and parts of the rocket skeleton and supersonic aircraft are niobium and molybdenum and alloys based on them, which show greater specific strength to 1370 ° C in comparison with tungsten, tantalum and their alloys.
Electrical Engineering
Molybdenum rod is used for welding heat resistant and low alloyed steels. For some welding applications it is coated with copper, in some cases chromium is added. Molybdenum rod is used in lighting devices together with tungsten. Depending on the diameter and surface condition, spiral and non-spiral cathodes, grids, springs, loop heaters of electronic devices, springs of semiconductor devices are made. They also make bushings and traverses. The coefficient of thermal expansion of glass and molybdenum are almost identical, so it is widely used for glass-bonded electrical contacts. MoO3 (molybdenum anhydride) serves as a cathode in lithium batteries.
Optics
Monocrystalline molybdenum is used to coat the mirrors of high-power gas-dynamic lasers. It is also used in constructions of high-temperature furnaces and for electrodes of glass baths for melting optical glass.
Other Industries
Medicine uses technetium-99 for diagnosis, which is obtained from 99 Mo. Cost of 1 gram of 99 Mo = $46 million. Molybdenum compounds - oxides, sulfides and molybdates serve as catalysts of chemical reactions, pigments of dyes and components of glazes, MoF6 - for applying metallic molybdenum to various coatings. Molybdenum is included in some microfertilizers.
Buy at the best price
Evek GmbH always has a wide range of rare and refractory metal products in stock. We supply semi-finished molybdenum products wholesale and retail at optimal prices. Our representative offices are located in Ukraine. You can make the purchase without leaving your office, through the Company's web-site. The technological configuration of each stage of production allows us to make individual orders if you are not satisfied with the basic products. We carry out quality orders of non-standard parameters, the terms of their performance are minimal. We provide discounts for bulk purchases.
