The molybdenum pellets used as additives
Molybdenum pellets (molybdenum powder or molybdenum alloy powder) as "invisible" high-performance additives have formed a complete value chain in metallurgy, electronics, chemical industry, 3D printing, and lubrication and refractory fields. With a melting point of 2620 ℃, high density, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and excellent chemical stability, it can significantly improve the performance of the base material even with a very small amount of addition, making it a key "functional particle" for cost reduction and efficiency improvement.
In the steel and high-temperature alloy fields, molybdenum pellets are directly added to molten steel or vacuum melting furnaces: an addition amount of 0.1% - 10% can enable pipeline steel, 316 stainless steel, and Inconel 718, etc. to obtain higher high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and corrosion resistance; the melting stability of molybdenum iron or pure molybdenum pellets ensures uniform composition, laying the material foundation for extreme working condition components such as deep-sea oil and gas pipelines and aircraft engine blades.
In the electronics and new energy industries, micron-sized molybdenum powder is regarded as a "functional filler". Solar silver paste mixed with 0.5 - 10 µm molybdenum powder can replace 20% - 30% of precious metals, reducing the cost of back electrodes; high-purity molybdenum pellets (≥ 99.95%) is used as a thermal interface material for 5G chips, matching the thermal expansion coefficient of silicon, significantly reducing thermal stress; at the same time, molybdenum oxides combined with cobalt/nickel composite particles are the active core of petroleum hydrogenation desulfurization and automotive SCR exhaust purification catalysts, with a service life of over five years.
For additive manufacturing, spherical molybdenum pellets (15 - 45 µm) has become a new favorite in laser selective melting (SLM): rocket nozzles and high-temperature resistant supports can be printed in one go, achieving both lightweighting and extreme environment reliability; Mo-Ti alloy powder is also used in medical implants, combining biocompatibility with high strength. At the same time, molybdenum disulfide particles are added as solid lubricants to mine gear oils or aerospace coatings, while molybdenum reinforced ceramics/carbon composites are used as inner linings for ultra-high temperature furnaces and other such furnaces.
In the future, with the maturity of technologies such as high-purity (≥99.95% for electronic grade), nanotechnology (for catalysts), and spheroidization (for printing), molybdenum particles will further evolve towards lower addition amounts and higher functional densities. However, high raw material costs (30-50 US dollars per kilogram) and precise control of particle size remain major challenges for the industry. It can be predicted that molybdenum particles will continue to unleash their potential of "small proportion, high value" in the next-generation alloys, solid-state batteries, green catalysis, and deep-space manufacturing.
Mosten Alloy can produce molybdenum sheet, molybdenum block, molybdenum foil, molybdenum rod, molybdenum wire, molybdenum processing workpiece according to customer demand.
