Niobium's use in Nuclear Reactors

Niobium, with a chemical symbol of Nb, is the lustrous light gray ductile metallic element that resembles tantalum chemically, and proves to be an extremely essential yet fascinating transition element. With an atomic number of 41, niobium combines strength, a high melting point, resistance to chemical attack, and a low neutron absorption cross-section. All of this promotes its use in the nuclear industry, especially in control rods of nuclear reactors. The prices of niobium are reasonable …

…to the incorporation of niobium into nuclear technology? How can these new technologies further benefit and edify out evolving society? As Alan Kay once stated, "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." Thus, in today's society, and for several decades to come, niobium proves to play an exceptionally integral role in its incorporation into nuclear fission reactors, due to its tremendous strength, high melting point, chemical resistance, and low neutron absorption.