Vanadium

By Kishori Krishnan Exclusive To Vanadium Investing News

If one were to give this element another name, it would surely be strength.

Vanadium, a chemical element with the symbol V and atomic number 23, is a soft, silvery-grey, ductile metal. But metallic Vanadium is not found in its natural stage in nature.

Instead, it occurs in about 65 minerals and fossil fuel deposits. Thus, there is no single mineral ore from which Vanadium can be recovered. However, it is found as a trace element in a number of different rock materials and is a by-product of other mining operations. It is also found in many organisms.

What makes this element a much sought after one in today’s world is the fact that Vanadium is saved from oxidation by the formation of an oxide layer, thus making it highly stable, rendering it open to many a use in the modern world.

Discovered in 1801, Vanadium is largely used as one part of an alloy, mostly in adding strength to steel. That is why it is known as the element of strength.

Much of the world’s Vanadium is sourced from the Vanadium-bearing magnetite.

It is found in China, Russia, South Africa, the USA and Canada.

Around 60,000 tonnes of Vanadium is produced annually in these regions. Of this, 95 per cent is accounted for by South Africa, North West China and Eastern Russia.

While China and Russia extract the element from steel smelter slag, the remaining nations produce it either from the flue dust of heavy oil or as a by-product of Uranium.

Almost 85 per cent of the world’s Vanadium is used as a critical component in high grade steel alloys such as high speed tool steel, which are used to manufacture surgical instruments.

Early on, it was found that the strength of steel would increase considerably if small amounts of Vanadium were added to it.

Element use

The use of Vanadium can easily be divided into two categories – old world and new.

Old world

There are two types of groups of steel alloy groups that contain Vanadium. The Vanadium high-carbon steel alloy contains 0.15 to 0.25 per cent of the metal, while the high-speed tool has a Vanadium content ranging between 1 to 5 per cent.

Further, Vanadium stabilizes the beta form of titanium and increases the latter’s strength and temperature stability. Thus, when mixed with aluminum in titanium alloys, the product can be used in jet engines and high speed airframes.

From the start of the 20th century, Vanadium steel has been used for applications in crankshafts, bicycle frames, gears; basically any component or tool that would require strength and durability.

Specifically, when Vanadium is alloyed with iron to make carbon steel, high-strength low-alloy steel, full alloy steel, and tool steel, it is dubbed ferrovanadium alloy.

These alloys are used in making the armor plating for military vehicles. They are also used to make car engine parts that must be very strong, such as piston rods and crank shafts, as they are subjected not only to great stress but also high temperatures.

Vanadium steel is also used to construct the frames of high-rise buildings and oil drilling platforms.

According to one expert estimate, more steel will be consumed in the next two decades than the entire consumption of the 20th century.

Since 2006, Vanadium steel production has been over 21 per cent more than that of crude steel year on year.

Among its other uses are – Vanadium foil used for cladding titanium to Steel, as a superconductor in magnets (a Vanadium-Gallium mixture is used in producing the superconductive magnets); Vanadium pentoxide is used as catalyst in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. The last is also used in making ceramics. Vanadium dioxide (VO2), on the other hand, is used in the production of glass coatings, used to block infrared radiation.

Modern-day

As global oil reserves are fast depleting and alternate, renewable sources of energy are the need of the hour, alternates like solar power and nuclear power are being seriously considered as viable options.

This is where Vanadium steps in. Recently, it has been suggested that Lithium Vanadium Oxide can be used as a high energy density anode for lithium ion batteries, when paired with a lithium cobalt oxide cathode.

Vanadium’s structural strength also makes it useful in nuclear applications, too.

But it is the Vanadium-Redox battery invented in New South Wales, Australia, that is said to have stolen a march over its Lithium cousin.

Said to be the ideal rechargeable battery, it is non toxic and with a rechargeable cycle far superior to that of lithium-ion and an ability to charge and discharge at super speeds.

Mining activity

As per one estimate, presently known world resources of Vanadium is about 63 million tons. In the United States, where it is usually associated with uranium ores in sandstones, the existing Vanadium deposits are large enough to meet that country’s needs.

But, over the years, the US has found it cheaper to import Vanadium and ferrovanadium products. The ferrovanadium thus imported is bought from neighbouring Canada, the Czech Republic, South Africa and China.

The majority of vanadium pentoxide used in glass manufacturing is imported from South Africa.

One of the top companies producing Vanadium is the South Africa based Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corp Ltd.

The Group’s principal activities are carried out through its steel, Vanadium and ferro-alloys divisions. The Vanadium division produces Vanadium pentoxide, ferrovanadium and vanadium bearing slug.

Vanadium chemicals are used as pigments, dyes, corrosion inhibitors and catalyst in the petrochemical and sulfuric acid industries.