The majority of vanadium, approximately
90%, is used as an alloying element to strengthen steel.
Adding only a fraction of one percent of vanadium to
steel converts it to a High Strength Low Alloy material.
Other uses for vanadium include chemicals for pigments
and catalysts and specialty alloys with titanium and
aluminum for use in jet engines and jet airframes.
Consumption of vanadium worldwide in
2007 was estimated to be 58,600 metric tons. The three
largest producing countries are South Africa, China,
and Russia. Production in North America comes from spent
catalyst, residues from burning coal and heavy oil,
byproduct of uranium mining, and imported pig iron slag.
There has been no vanadium mining in the US since the
1980s.
Global consumption of vanadium has been
rising recently with the worldwide boom in infrastructure
construction. Trends in consumption has shown annual
increases in the range of 6% to 7%, with forecast consumption
to continue at that rate. The Gibellini Project would
produce 4% to 5% of world usage of vanadium, helping
supply keep up with the growing demand for this strategic
metal.
More information about vanadium can be
found at the following websites:
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