Niobium Type 4 / UNS R04261
Niobium Type 4 is the commercial counterpart of Type 3: a Niobium alloy with approximately 1 percent Zirconium, produced according to less strict purity requirements. This makes Type 4 a cost-effective choice for industrial applications.
Type 4 combines the mechanical enhancement of the Zirconium alloy with the accessibility of a commercial quality.
Like Type 3, Type 4 benefits from higher tensile strength and improved creep resistance thanks to the addition of Zirconium, while maintaining corrosion resistance and a high melting point.
The alloy remains highly formable and weldable under protective atmosphere.
Type 4 is used in the chemical process industry and in aerospace for parts that require higher strength than unalloyed Niobium.
It is also regularly used as an alloying element in superalloys for high-temperature applications.