Niobium, decided Dianne deBeixedon, a metalsmith and professor of metalworking at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. “These little squid [brooches] wanted color,” she says of the project. “I never imagined them in gold or silver or anything else.”
"Niobium & Peridot Pendant" | ||||
Niobium & Peridot PendantCreated by Matthew Crawford | ||||
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This bracelet is made from 100% niobium. Pick any two colors of niobium you want and listen to the compliments roll in. I made this indigo and yellow one while thinking about the University of Washington… Go Huskies! Niobium contains no nickel or any other metal, so it's safe for people who have metal allergies. Many who can't even wear gold can wear niobium. (Psst, guys, if your girlfriend has a metal allergy, this is the product for you! You'll be a hero!) :-) The chain is 6/32" thick. I use a handmade niobium hook clasp with this bracelet; it hasn't been photographed yet, but it looks similar to the sterling silver one.
7 inch niobium bracelet in watery tones of blues and greens. This is in the box chain pattern. This bracelet has a sterling silver lobster clasp. It also comes in many colors. This bracelet has a lot of shine and brightness to it.
Anodized Aluminum Jump Rings - Violet | niobium jewelry
Dusky rose niobium goes great with silver.
Niobium Jackets niobium earring
niobium jewelry wire
Murano Glass, Czech Crystal, Niobium Earwire
niobium jewelry wire
Working with Niobium
Like the precious metals, niobium is very ductile and extremely slow to work harden. It cuts easily with a jeweler's saw and can be hand formed, dapped, chased, and forged with ease. It has moderate density-about a third that of gold, twice that of titanium, and 10 percent greater than that of iron. In cold working, such as rolling, drawing, forging, and swedging, niobium can be reduced as much as 90 percent in cross-sectional area before annealing. In some processes, annealing is not necessary and reduction is unlimited.
At room temperatures, a thin adherent oxide film forms on the metal's surface. This film is transparent and self-healing. It protects the metal from corrosion and protects the wearer from the metal. Niobium reacts with atmospheric oxygen and other gases at temperatures as low as 230°C/446°F. The metal should not be exposed to an atmosphere above 370°C/700°F for longer than a few minutes to prevent further oxidation.
Niobium's tendency to oxidize also means that annealing requires a high vacuum (10-4 Torr min.) or an inert atmosphere, vacuum being preferred. Heat treatment at 1,200°C/2,218°F for one hour provides for complete recrystalization of material cold worked over 50 percent.
More about niobium: ganoksin
niobium jewelry wire
