Editing Vanadium (section)

=== Alloys ===
Approximately 85% of the vanadium produced is used as [[ferrovanadium]] or as a [[steel]] additive.<ref name="Moskalyk" /> The considerable increase of strength in steel containing small amounts of vanadium was discovered in the early 20th century. Vanadium forms stable nitrides and carbides, resulting in a significant increase in the strength of steel.<ref name="Chandler">{{cite book |last=Chandler |first=Harry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arupok8PTBEC |title=Metallurgy for the Non-metallurgist |date=1998 |publisher=ASM International |isbn=978-0-87170-652-2 |pages=6–7}}</ref> From that time on, vanadium steel was used for applications in [[axle]]s, bicycle frames, [[crankshaft]]s, gears, and other critical components. There are two groups of vanadium steel alloys. Vanadium high-carbon steel alloys contain 0.15–0.25% vanadium, and [[High-speed steel|high-speed tool steels]] (HSS) have a vanadium content of 1–5%. For high-speed tool steels, a hardness above [[Rockwell hardness|HRC]] 60 can be achieved. HSS steel is used in [[surgical instrument]]s and [[tool]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Joseph R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kws7x68r_aUC&pg=PA11 |title=Tool Materials: Tool Materials |date=1995 |publisher=ASM International |isbn=978-0-87170-545-7}}</ref> [[Powder metallurgy|Powder-metallurgic]] alloys contain up to 18% percent vanadium. The high content of vanadium carbides in those alloys increases wear resistance significantly. One application for those alloys is tools and knives.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Oleg D. Neikov |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6aP3te2hGuQC&pg=PA490 |title=Handbook of Non-Ferrous Metal Powders: Technologies and Applications |last2=Naboychenko |first2=Stanislav |last3=Mourachova |first3=Irina |author4=Victor G. Gopienko |author5=Irina V. Frishberg |author6=Dina V. Lotsko |date=2009-02-24 |isbn=978-0-08-055940-7 |page=490 | publisher=Elsevier |access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref><!--http://www.wujii.com.tw/PDF/CPM%2015V.pdf-->

Vanadium stabilizes the beta form of titanium and increases the strength and temperature stability of titanium. Mixed with [[aluminium]] in [[titanium]] alloys, it is used in [[jet engine]]s, high-speed airframes and [[dental implant]]s. The most common alloy for seamless tubing is [[titanium alloy#Grades of titanium|Titanium 3/2.5]] containing 2.5% vanadium, the titanium alloy of choice in the aerospace, defense, and bicycle industries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Technical Supplement: Titanium |url=http://www.sevencycles.com/buildingbike/techsupplement/ti.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103173648/http://www.sevencycles.com/buildingbike/techsupplement/ti.php |archive-date=3 November 2016 |access-date=1 November 2016 |website=Seven Cycles}}</ref> Another common alloy, primarily produced in sheets, is [[Titanium 6AL-4V]], a titanium alloy with 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zwicker |first1=Ulrich |title=Titan und Titanlegierungen |year=1974 |isbn=978-3-642-80588-2 |pages=4–29 |chapter=Herstellung des Metalls |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-80587-5_2}}</ref>

Several vanadium alloys show [[Superconductivity|superconducting]] behavior. The first [[A15 phase]] superconductor was a vanadium compound, V<sub>3</sub>Si, which was discovered in 1952.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hardy |first1=George F. |last2=Hulm |first2=John K. |date=15 February 1953 |title=Superconducting Silicides and Germanides |journal=Physical Review |volume=89 |issue=4 |pages=884 |bibcode=1953PhRv...89Q.884H |doi=10.1103/PhysRev.89.884}}</ref> [[Vanadium-gallium]] tape is used in [[superconductivity|superconducting]] magnets (17.5 [[tesla (unit)|teslas]] or 175,000 [[gauss (unit)|gauss]]). The structure of the superconducting A15 phase of V<sub>3</sub>Ga is similar to that of the more common [[niobium-tin|Nb<sub>3</sub>Sn]] and [[niobium-titanium|Nb<sub>3</sub>Ti]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Markiewicz |first1=W. |last2=Mains |first2=E. |last3=Vankeuren |first3=R. |last4=Wilcox |first4=R. |last5=Rosner |first5=C. |last6=Inoue |first6=H. |last7=Hayashi |first7=C. |last8=Tachikawa |first8=K. |date=January 1977 |title=A 17.5 Tesla superconducting concentric {{chem|Nb|3|Sn}} and {{chem|V|3|Ga}} magnet system |journal=IEEE Transactions on Magnetics |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=35–37 |doi=10.1109/TMAG.1977.1059431}}</ref>

It has been found that a small amount, 40 to 270&nbsp;ppm, of vanadium in [[Wootz steel]] significantly improved the strength of the product, and gave it the distinctive patterning. The source of the vanadium in the original Wootz steel ingots remains unknown.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Verhoeven |first1=J. D. |last2=Pendray |first2=A. H. |last3=Dauksch |first3=W. E. |date=September 1998 |title=The key role of impurities in ancient damascus steel blades |journal=JOM |volume=50 |issue=9 |pages=58–64 |bibcode=1998JOM....50i..58V |doi=10.1007/s11837-998-0419-y |s2cid=135854276}}</ref>

Vanadium can be used as a substitute for molybdenum in armor steel, though the alloy produced is far more brittle and prone to [[spalling]] on non-penetrating impacts.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rohrmann |first=B. |year=1985 |title=Vanadium in South Africa (Metal Review Series no. 2) |journal=Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy |volume=85 |issue=5 |pages=141–150 |hdl=10520/AJA0038223X_1959}}</ref> The Third Reich was one of the most prominent users of such alloys, in armored vehicles like [[Tiger II]] or [[Jagdtiger]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Overy |first=R. J. |year=1973 |title=Transportation and Rearmament in the Third Reich |journal=The Historical Journal |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=389–409 |doi=10.1017/s0018246x00005926 |s2cid=153437214}}</ref>