 Molybdenum is a silvery-white, refractory and very hard transition metal that is softer and more ductile than tungsten. The Swedish chemist—Carl Wilhelm Scheele, first discovered it in 1778. Though Molybdenum does not occur in the native environment, it can be obtained from molybdenite, wulfenite and powellite. Molybdenum can be also recovered as a by-product of copper and tungsten mining operations. Molybdenum in its pure form is the end product of the powder left over from the hydrogen reduction of ammonium molybdate or purified molybdic trioxide.
Before Scheele molybdenite was often confused with graphite and lead ore. Use of molybdenum alloys soared during the First World War, when dramatically increased demand made tungsten scarce and high-strength steel in general was at a premium. Today molybdenum is primarily used, as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel, in catalysts and lubricants and in superalloys to enhance hardenability, strength, toughness and resistance to corrosion and wear.
The Uses of Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloys
Various molybdenum alloys have found application in electrodes for foreheaths and electrically heated glass furnaces. Molybdenum alloys are widely used in the nuclear energy industry and in the construction of both aircraft parts and ballistic missile components. It is especially valuable to the petrol-chemical industry, where it is used in oil pipelines and as catalyst in petroleum refining (for removing organic sulfurs). Molybdenum has also been used as a filament material in an assortment of electronic and electrical applications.
To achieve desired metallurgical properties is frequently used in combination with chromium, niobium (columbium), nickel, manganese or tungsten. The versatility of molybdenum and molybdenum alloys has ensured it a significant role in an industrial landscape that more than ever requires alloy materials that are serviceable at expanded temperature ranges, under high stress and in resistance corrosive environments.
More importantly, few if any of molybdenum's common applications have an acceptable substitute.
The Name's of Molybdenum in Other Languages:
- Latin: Molybdaenum
- Czech: Molybden
- Croatian: Molibden
- French: Molybdéne
- German: Molybdän - r
- Italian: Molibdeno
- Norwegian: Molybden
- Portuguese: Molibdênio
- Spanish: Molibdeno
- Swedish: Molybden
The Environmental Effects of Molybdenum
Molybdenum is essential component in the biological make-up of literally every species. But, as with a variety other trace metals, what is essential in a tiny amount is often highly toxic in large doses. A variety of animal experiments have demonstrated that too much molybdenum can cause fetal deformities.
The Health Effects of Molybdenum
Based on animal testing carried out in the former Soviet Union, molybdenum and its associated compounds can be highly toxic. Evidence of chronic liver dysfunction (hyperbilirubinemia) has been reported in the Armenian workmen chronically exposed to molybdenum compounds in the Soviet's notorious Mo-Cu plant. Moreover, signs of gout have been found in factory workers and inhabitants of the Mo-rich area of present day Armenia.
The primary symptomology involved joint pain in the knees, hands and feet, erythema, articular deformities, and edema in the joint areas
Charter Trading LTD's Molybdenum Alloy Specialists Are Waiting for Your Call!
Charter brokers, trades and stocks a wide selection of molybdenum scrap and molybdenum alloys and a range of use specific molybdenum materials to meet the needs of customers worldwide. Molybdenum is well suited for use as an alloying agent, to contribute to the overall toughness of quenched and tempered steels or to improve the strength of steel at high temperatures.
For more information about Charter's molybdenum stock call 773-638-2300 or email one of our Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloy specialists give your business back its edge today. |
