Niobium injection

Penn State researchers have developed the first powder injection moulding process for pure niobium, a biocompatible material similar to platinum and titanium but cheaper.

The researchers, who are based in the University's Center for Innovative Sintered Products, say the new process could open the door to injection-moulded niobium parts ranging from rocket nozzles, to wires, to human bone replacements, to orthodontic braces.

Gaurav Aggarwal, doctoral candidate in engineering science and mechanics, presented the team's work in a paper, Development of Niobium Powder Injection Moulding, at the International Symposium on Tantalum and Niobium in Pattaya, Thailand, on October 17.

Aggarwal notes that other researchers have developed techniques for processing niobium via powder metallurgy and some have applied powder injection moulding to niobium-based alloys and superalloys. However, the Penn State team is the first to explore processing pure niobium via powder injection moulding. They have developed a method to calculate the optimal proportions of niobium powder to binder in feedstocks as well as the appropriate temperature and duration for sintering.