Vanadium Metal

Vanadium, with the symbol V and atomic number 23, is a hard, silvery-grey, malleable transition metal electrically conductive and thermally insulating. The metal is rarely found in nature in its elemental form but is more commonly found in various ores. When isolated, it forms an oxide layer that stabilizes it against further oxidation. Vanadium is used in a variety of applications due to its desirable properties. About 80% of vanadium produced is used as a steel additive, contributing to the creation of high-speed tool steel, high-strength, low-alloy steel, and wear-resistant cast iron. Vanadium-steel alloys are known for their toughness and are used in armor plates, axles, tools, piston rods, and crankshafts. Adding a small amount of vanadium to steel can significantly improve its shock and vibration resistance.

In addition to its use in steel and iron alloys, vanadium is also used in the chemical industry and for high-temperature service due to its corrosion resistance and durability. Producing very pure vanadium can be challenging due to its reactivity with elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon at elevated temperatures.

Vanadium also has applications in nuclear reactors because of its low neutron-absorbing properties, and it is the fifth most abundant transition metal in the Earth’s crust. Although a deficiency condition in humans has not been defined, vanadium has been studied for its potential medicinal applications, including as a treatment for diabetes mellitus.