What is Molybdenum Used For?

At Special Metals Fabrication, we produce and supply a range of refractory metals – materials that are expertly manufactured to be highly resistant to heat, wear and other destructive forces.

The metals we stock include tungsten, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, titanium and molybdenum.

In this article, we look at a few of the properties and uses of the final metal in that list – Molybdenum. What are its most popular applications, and why is it especially suited to these particular purposes?

Properties of Molybdenum

Molybdenum has the chemical symbol (Mo) and the atomic number 42. It’s a transition metal in Group 6 of the periodic table of elements.

The metal is found oxidised in various minerals and is often a by-product of copper or tungsten mining, which must then be isolated in order to function as a pure material.

One of the benefits of molybdenum is its exceptionally high melting point: 2620 degrees celsius. That’s higher than the melting point of titanium, niobium or zirconium.

It is also exceptionally hard – sitting at 5.5 on the Mohs scale or 1500 MPa. The only harder metals we offer are tungsten, titanium and niobium.

The metal offers high thermal conductivity, as well as a corrosion resistance to glass and other metals, which makes it extremely versatile and useful for a range of applications.

Uses of Molybdenum

Thanks to its high melting point, Molybdenum is regularly used to make items such as sintering trays or boats, plasma spraying nozzles and furnace components.

Its high conductivity levels lend it to charge carrying applications, or use in the fabrication of electrodes and sputtering targets.

Because it is extremely hard and not easily corroded, the metal is also popular for the manufacture of aerospace parts, medical parts, and glass stirrers.

How to Acquire Molybdenum

You can purchase Molybdenum from Special Metals Fabrication in rod, bar, furnace, plate, or sheet form. Our team of specialists can also create customised parts and fittings for you, depending on your precise specifications.

We can also fabricate products from Molybdenum TZM – an extra-strong alloy of Titanium, Zirconium, and Molybdenum.

To discuss your requirements with us today, simply make an enquiry by filling in our straightforward online contact form.

We’ll be more than happy to talk to you about the Molybdenum products you need for any project – and we’ll make sure you receive the metal in the right amount, form, or component design according to the information you give us.

We can offer next day delivery on many machined parts, welded products, or stock items. If you are looking for a particularly specialist product, please don’t hesitate to call our team on 01268 820409 or 01268 280665, or email sales@special-metals.co.uk to discuss what you need.

Special Metals Fabrication can also produce and treat components made from tungsten, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, titanium, or produce rods, bars, sheets, or other forms of pure refractory metal.

We also offer aqua blasting and bead blasting, product fabrication, and wrought product services. Contact us for a quote today.

Posted on: May 12, 2021