Niobium and niobium 1% zirconium for High Pressure Sodium (HPS) discharge lamps

Niobium offers a unique combination of properties for use in High Pressure Sodium (HPS) vapor lamps. Today, both pure niobium and Nb-1Zr find use as lead wires and end caps in HPS lamps. The results of a statistical comparison of the mechanical properties of niobium and Nb-1Zr sheet and wire are presented, and reveal that the addition of 1% zirconium does not significantly alter the room temperature strength of niobium. Instead, the alloy exhibits enhanced mechanical properties at elevated temperatures compared to pure niobium. This observation, as well as metallurgical analysis, confirms that zirconium acts as a dispersion strengthener in niobium. (AU)