The Science Behind C103

Niobium C103 is a refractory metal alloy composed of approximately 89% niobium, 10% hafnium, and 1% titanium. This precise formulation creates a material with extraordinary properties that make it indispensable in extreme environments.

  • Extreme temperature resistance
  • Excellent creep resistance
  • High tensile strength
  • Superior formability
  • Low neutron absorption
  • Oxidation resistance
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Good weldability
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Refractory Metal Advantage

Refractory metals like niobium C103 are defined by their extremely high melting points (over 2000°C) and ability to maintain strength at elevated temperatures where most metals fail.

Specifications of Niobium C103 Wire

Our Niobium C103 Wire is available in a wide range of diameters with tight tolerances, and can be custom manufactured to your exact requirements.

Parameter Standard Range Custom Options Tolerance
Wire Diameter 0.1mm - 6.35mm (0.004" - 0.250") Up to 12.7mm (0.500") ±0.01mm for diameters
  <0.5mm
±0.02mm for larger sizes
Length 1m - 1000m on spools Custom lengths available ±0.5%
Alloy Composition Nb-10Hf-1Ti (Niobium with 10% Hafnium, 1% Titanium)   ±0.5% for major elements
Surface Finish As-drawn, Annealed, Pickled Electropolished, Coated options Up to 0.05µm Ra
Temper Soft (annealed), Half-hard, Full-hard Custom tempers available -
Packaging Spools, coils, cut lengths Custom packaging solutions -

Available Configurations

  • Fine Diameter Wire

    0.025mm to 0.5mm diameters for precision applications requiring exceptional dimensional control

  • Medium Diameter Wire

    0.5mm to 3mm diameters for general purpose high-temperature applications

  • Heavy Gauge Wire

    3mm to 12.7mm diameters for structural applications and high-strength requirements

  • Specialty Forms

    Stranded, braided, and shaped wire configurations available upon request

Quality Testing Parameters

  • Dimensional Verification
  • Tensile Testing
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Surface Finish Inspection
  • Microstructure Evaluation
  • Coil Tension Uniformity
  • Packaging Integrity

Why Choose Niobium C103 Wire?

Niobium C103 wire offers unique advantages over other high-performance wire materials:

  • Superior Temperature Performance

  • Maintains strength at temperatures exceeding 1800°C

  • Exceptional Formability

  • Can be drawn to very fine diameters while maintaining integrity

  • Chemical Resistance

  • Withstands attack from aggressive environments

  • Dimensional Precision

  • Available with tight tolerances for critical applications

Niobium C103 Wire

Manufacturing Process of Niobium C103 Wire

Producing Niobium C103 wire requires specialized processes to maintain material integrity while achieving precise dimensions.

1. Alloy Preparation

High-purity niobium, hafnium, and titanium are precisely measured and blended according to the C103 specification (Nb-10Hf-1Ti) to ensure exact chemical composition.

2. Vacuum Arc Melting

The alloy is melted in a high-vacuum environment to eliminate gas impurities and ensure homogeneous composition, creating a uniform ingot structure. Multiple melts ensure chemical uniformity.

3. Ingot Processing

The ingot is hot-worked through forging and rolling processes to reduce its cross-section and prepare it for wire drawing, while maintaining the material's grain structure.

4. Wire Drawing

The prepared stock undergoes multiple cold drawing passes through diamond dies, with intermediate annealing steps to relieve stress and maintain ductility, gradually reducing to the final wire diameter.

5. Final Annealing & Finishing

Final heat treatment optimizes mechanical properties. Surface finishing processes may include pickling or electropolishing to achieve the required surface quality.

6. Testing & Packaging

Each batch undergoes rigorous testing before being spooled or cut to length and packaged according to customer specifications.

Manufacturing Capabilities of Niobium C103 Wire

0.1mm
Wall Thickness Tolerance
12.7mm
Maximum Diameter
±0.01mm
Dimensional Tolerance
1000m
Maximum Coil Length

Internally Standards of Niobium C103 Wire

Our Niobium C103 Wire meets or exceeds the most stringent international standards for quality and performance.

ISO 9001

Certifications & Specifications

  • ASTM B655

    Standard specification for niobium and niobium alloy wire, establishing requirements for chemical composition, mechanical properties, and dimensional tolerances.

  • ISO 9001

    Our quality management system is certified to both ISO 9001 standards, ensuring consistent quality across all production processes from raw material to finished product.

Internally Standards of Niobium C103 Wire

Chemical Analysis

Complete elemental composition verification with spectroscopy and wet chemistry analysis.

Mechanical Testing

Tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation testing with certified results.

Traceability

Complete material traceability documentation from raw material to finished product.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or needs regarding Niobium C-103 Wire products, please feel free to contact us and we will provide you with professional consulting services.