{"id":1058183,"date":"2026-11-13T14:35:31","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T06:35:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vimaterial.de\/?p=1058183"},"modified":"2026-11-13T15:21:41","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T07:21:41","slug":"niobium-disilicide-nbsi%e2%82%82","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vimaterial.de\/en\/niobium-disilicide-nbsi%e2%82%82\/","title":{"rendered":"Niobium Disilicide (NbSi\u2082): Properties, Applications and Production"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Niobium disilicide (NbSi\u2082)<\/a><\/span>, also known as niobium silicide, is an intermetallic compound composed of niobium and silicon. It belongs to the transition metal silicide family and is characterised by its high melting point, relatively low density, electrical conductivity and potential for high-temperature applications.<\/p>

Due to its thermal stability and oxidation behaviour, NbSi\u2082 has attracted interest in the development of high-temperature structural materials, protective coatings and advanced functional materials. It can also be used as a starting material in powder metallurgy, ceramic research and thin-film deposition processes.<\/p>

VIMATERIAL supplies high-purity niobium disilicide powder and sputtering targets with a purity of 99.5%. Powder is available in -200 mesh and -325 mesh grades, while sputtering targets can be supplied in circular, square and rectangular shapes, with standard and customised dimensions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. What Is Niobium Disilicide (NbSi\u2082)?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Niobium disilicide is a binary intermetallic compound formed by niobium (Nb) and silicon (Si), with the chemical formula NbSi\u2082. It contains one niobium atom and two silicon atoms in its stoichiometric composition.<\/p>

It is commonly identified by the following chemical information:<\/p>

Property<\/th>Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Chemical name<\/td>Niobium Disilicide<\/td><\/tr>
Alternative name<\/td>Niobium Silicide<\/td><\/tr>
Chemical formula<\/td>NbSi2<\/sub><\/td><\/tr>
CAS number<\/td>12034-80-9<\/td><\/tr>
Molecular weight<\/td>149.08 g\/mol<\/td><\/tr>
Appearance<\/td>Grey to dark grey solid<\/td><\/tr>
Crystal structure<\/td>Hexagonal<\/td><\/tr>
Space group<\/td>P6\/mmm<\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/td>Approximately 5.7 g\/cm\u00b3<\/td><\/tr>
Melting point<\/td>Approximately 1940\u20131950\u00b0C<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

NbSi\u2082 is a refractory intermetallic compound with a relatively high melting point. Its combination of thermal stability, electrical properties and oxidation behaviour makes it a material of interest in high-temperature engineering and advanced materials research.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Physical and Chemical Properties of NbSi\u2082<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The properties of niobium disilicide are relevant to its selection for high-temperature materials, coatings and other specialised applications.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2.1 Crystal Structure and Appearance<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Niobium disilicide has a hexagonal crystal structure and typically appears as a grey solid or powder. Its crystal structure and chemical composition influence its physical and functional properties.<\/p>

The material is generally characterised by relatively high hardness and limited room-temperature ductility, which are typical considerations when processing refractory intermetallic compounds.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2.2 Thermal Properties<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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One of the important characteristics of NbSi\u2082 is its high melting point, reported at approximately 1940\u20131950\u00b0C.<\/p>

This thermal characteristic makes it relevant to research involving high-temperature materials and components exposed to elevated operating temperatures.<\/p>

Its reported thermal expansion coefficient is approximately 7.3 \u00d7 10\u207b\u2076 K\u207b\u00b9. This property can be considered when evaluating its compatibility with other materials in composite systems and protective coatings.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2.3 Mechanical Properties<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Niobium disilicide exhibits relatively high hardness. Reported values include:<\/p>