Properties
Pure vanadium is a bright white metal, and is soft and ductile. It has good corrosion resistance to alkalis,
sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, and salt water, but the metal oxidizes readily above 660oC.
The metal has good structural strength and a low fission neutron cross section, making it useful in
nuclear applications.
Uses
Vanadium is used in producing rust resistant and high speed tools steels. It is an important carbide
stabilizer in making steels.
About 80% of the vanadium now produced is used as ferrovanadium or as a steel additive. Vanadium foil
is used as a bonding agent in cladding titanium to steel. Vanadium pentoxide is used in ceramics and as a
catalyst.
It is also used to produce a superconductive magnet with a field of 175,000 gauss.
Handling
Vanadium and its compounds are toxic and should be handled with care. The maximum allowable
concentration of V 2 O 5 dust in air is about 0.05 (8-hour time-weighted average - 40-hour week).
Costs
Ductile vanadium is commercially available. Commercial vanadium metal, of about 95% purity, costs
about $20/lb. Vanadium (99.9%) costs about $100/oz.
Isotopes
Sources: CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics and the American Chemical Society.
Last Updated: 12/19/97, CST Information Services Team
Vanadium