Creating a Stronger, Lighter U.S. Army

.

High strength, vanadium

microalloyed steels

enable lighter structures,

compared to conventional

steel structures in U.S.

Army applications. The

element vanadium, when

combined with other steel

processing innovations,

can provide this enabling

capability for the U.S.

Army

What is Vanadium?

Vanadium is a well-known, but perhaps underutilized, alloying element that enables higher strength steel.

Two broad areas of U.S. Army applications could benefit from

Steel Spaninnovative designs utilizing vanadium microalloyed steels. Civil engineering applications could

realize higher strength or lighter structures designed to resist blasts or seismic shocks. Mobility and

packaging applications could benefit from higher strength steel to reduce weapon system weight, improve

mobility and readiness, while reducing fuel requirements and emissions.

Vanadium is a soft, ductile, silver-gray metal. Many of its properties resemble those of chromium. It is

corrosion resistant at normal temperature, but oxidizes above 600ºC. Vanadium is not found uncombined in

nature, but is distributed widely through a variety of minerals. In the United States, the primary source of

vanadium is spent catalyst from chemical processing plants. These catalysts are processed by several

companies that, in turn, supply vanadium alloying stock to steel producers. The principal use of vanadium is

in metallic alloys, especially steels. In tool and spring steels it is a powerful alloying agent; a small amount

(less than 1%) adds strength, toughness and heat resistance.

It is usually added in the form of ferrovanadium, a

vanadium-iron alloy. Vanadium compounds, especially

vanadium pentoxide, are used in the ceramics, glass, and

dye industries, and are important as catalysts in the

chemical industry.

The environmental benefits of recycled vanadium are

worth noting. Each year 6 million pounds of vanadium are

recycled from spent catalysts. Recycling reduces energy

requirements associated with proc-essing virgin vanadium

ores, eliminates or reduces the need for land filling these

"wastes," and ensures a domestic supply of vanadium for

U.S. steel producers that supply here and abroad.