Refractory Metal

Refractory Metals refers to a category of metallic elements with high melting points. Typically, they have a melting point above 2000 degree Celsius and are extremely hard at room temperature. The typical definition of refractory metals includes five elements: niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and rhenium. A broader definition includes titanium, vanadium, chromium, zirconium, hafnium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium.
Resistance to creep is a crucial feature of refractory metals. Refractory metals and alloys are used widely in aerospace, nuclear reaction control, tools, lighting, and other applications because they retain their strength at high temperatures. Due to their high melting points, refractory metal components are typically not fabricated by casting, but rather by the powder metallurgical process: the metal powder is compacted, heated with an electric current, and then manufactured by cold working and annealing stages. Refractory metals and their alloys are capable of being worked into wire, sheet, or foil etc.