Purchase Molybdenum Semi-Finished Products

In 1778, chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele successfully produced white molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) by treating molybdenum sulfide with nitric acid. Molybdenum sulfide was often mistaken for graphite. It was not until three years later, in 1781, that Peter Jacob Hjelm reduced the oxide with carbon to obtain elemental molybdenum. High-purity molybdenum can be plastically deformed; however, even small impurities, such as 1 ppm oxygen or nitrogen, can make the material brittle.

For a long time, this material had no known use. It was only at the end of the 19th century that various applications were discovered. Today, molybdenum is still used as an additional alloying element in the production of steel. Most molybdenum is obtained during copper production, with only about 30% coming directly from molybdenum ores.

MoLa
Molybdenum with lanthanum has a higher recrystallization temperature compared to pure molybdenum or HCT molybdenum, and generally offers improved ductility.

TZM
Titanium, zirconium, and molybdenum increase the strength at higher temperatures compared to pure molybdenum. Additionally, this alloy has a higher recrystallization temperature and improved creep resistance.

HCT
This alloy develops closed, elongated grain structures that behave ductile at room temperature. It is used in resistance heating elements, supports for filament holders in lamps, and electronic tubes.

Typically, all ores are processed into ammonium heptamolybdate. At about 400°C, this is calcined into molybdenum trioxide (MoO3). Molybdenum trioxide is reduced in two stages to pure molybdenum powder. The first stage, at 500-600°C, produces metastable brown-violet molybdenum dioxide (MoO2), and the subsequent second stage results in pure metal powder. Further processing of the pure metal powder, either by remelting under pressure in an argon-protective atmosphere or by densification in an electron beam furnace, produces compact metal.

Pure molybdenum and molybdenum alloys possess unique properties, such as a high melting point of 2620°C and corrosion resistance at high temperatures in aggressive environments.

• High load capacity at temperatures of 2000°C
• Excellent thermal and electrical conductivity
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion
• Corrosion resistance
• Shielding of high-energy particles