Summary
The addition of small amounts of vanadium (less than 0.2 percent) to structural steels improves their toughness, ductility, and strength owing to the grain-refining effect of vanadium carbide precipitates. These HSLA steels are used in automotive components, such as hoods and door panels, and in oil and gas pipelines.
Almost all tool steels contain vanadium in amounts ranging from 0.10 to 5 percent. It is required to ensure the retention of hardness and cutting ability at high temperatures.
China has increased its demand for high grade steel, and in turn vanadium, which is added to increase the strength of steel. The stronger the structure of the building, the less likely Mother Nature will topple towers.
The nation of China now requires almost 50 percent of the global supply of vanadium. The country’s demand grew by 13 percent between 2003 and 2009, while world production of vanadium increased by 7 percent between 2003 and 2008, according to steelguru.com.
As recently as June 12, 2010 the world’s experts in steel met in Beijing to discuss how the alloy of Vanadium can be added to steel to decrease the chances of future earthquake-related casualties.
Vanitec (VANADIUM INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE) co-sponsored a two-day seminar between Chinese regulatory bodies, steelmakers and contractors.
“Due to its rapid economic expansion in the past few years, China has become a leader in steel consumption and production,” said Vanitec CEO David Milbourn, in a press release. “As a consortium of vanadium researchers and manufacturers, we believe Vanitec will play a major role in educating this new market on the earthquake-related benefits of vanadium-enhanced steel.”
Market Opportunity
Looking at the potential growth market for Vanadium, there is a real opportunity in terms of the global explosion in demand for infrastructure, and therefore the need for raw materials - steel, reinforced concrete and other necessary resources to support and develop an infrastructure. Global steel production will be strained at the current levels. In a few years, it appears that demand will be about 2 billion tons of steel per year.
The pressure on iron ore production is illustrated by a near price doubling in the latest contracts. An attractive alternative is micro-alloy steels made with recycled scrap. It is possible to use about 30 to 40 percent less steel and achieve the same engineering objectives. As a consequence, there is also less impact on the environment.
Steel manufacturers can meet their customer's required specifications of strength, toughness, ductility, elongation or weldability by producing high-strength, low-alloy steel with vanadium.
For engineers, HSLA-V steel provides a good alternative to standard low C-Mn steel when a given project requires high-strength, toughness, ductility, formability, elongation and weldability. Specific examples of these properties can be found in the case studies:
- Long Span Structures
- Military Trailer Weight Reduction
- Reinforcement Bar
- Non-Standard Fixed Bridge
Metallurgical_Benefits_of_Vanadium_Microalloying_in_Producing_High_Strength_Seismic_Grade_Rebar.pdf
Source: www.hsla-v.org
