Manufacturers generally use vanadium and vanadium alloys in the form of ferrovanadium or as a steel alloy. Vanadium and vanadium alloys resist corrosion and provide added strength to other metals. The nuclear industry uses vanadium due to its resistance to high temperatures. Mining companies extract vanadium while mining magnetite, bauxite or fossil fuels. Vanadium compounds generate even more uses.

Uses of vanadium and vanadium alloys include a number of metallic products. The medical profession uses surgical instruments made of stainless steel and vanadium alloys. Manufacturers of automotive parts produce axles, crankshafts, gears and other components from vanadium oxide when you need extra strength. Other manufacturers produce armor plating for military vehicles from vanadium. Vanadium steel reinforces framing in high-rise structures and oil drilling platforms. Businesses that make glass, ceramics and dyes often use vanadium compounds for their products.

You can purchase the raw material for manufacturing applications. Alternatively, you can purchase finished products made from vanadium and vanadium alloys from a variety of sources.

1. Investigate sources for vanadium and vanadium alloys.

2. Look for vanadium products that you can remanufacture into finished products.

3. Find out if finished products made from vanadium and vanadium alloys are already available.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase raw vanadium and vanadium alloys for your products

You can easily find companies that sell vanadium to the companies that use it in manufacturing. Try to find a company that offers everything you need.

I recommend: Stratcor of Tennessee produces vanadium and vanadium alloys from both foreign and domestic mines. Reading Alloys produces vanadium and titanium alloys for commercial use.

Make other products from the basic forms of vanadium alloys

Vanadium takes a number of forms and combines with other elements to form vanadium oxide, chromium vanadium, and other vanadium compounds. These compounds form basic metallic shapes from which you can manufacture vanadium products.

I recommend: Eagle Alloys Corporation produces vanadium products from which you can make other products such as foil, rod, bar, wire and plate. American Elements produces vanadium foil, plates, bars, coins, ingot, metal and various vanadium compounds.

Shop from a variety of vanadium alloy producers of parts and products

Businesses may use automotive parts, medical equipment, ceramics, and other parts made from vanadium and vanadium alloys. Many outlets produce such products and sell them. Others provide a product and a service, such as those companies that build oil rigs made from vanadium strengthened steel.

I recommend: Metallurg Vanadium produces alloys and products made from alloys. LaxShopper.com sells Lacrosse equipment made from vanadium-strengthened steel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Though the United States has vanadium alloy producers, many businesses often import the alloy from other countries because it is less expensive. Make sure you compare costs between national and foreign vanadium producers before you make a decision.