Anyone have a clue what 6.9% Nb would have on your alloy?

[ChuckJaxFL]

Just curious:

http://www.govliquidation.com/auction/view?auctionId=6175238&convertTo=USD

[cbrick]

Never even heard of Niobium (Nb) & had to look it up. Sounds strange that it would be in lead though with a melting Point of 4474°F

http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Nb.html

Maybe somebody that knows something about it will chime in.

Rick

[Nobade]

Make it less likely to activate in the presence of ionizing radiation?

I wonder how easily it could be separated from the lead? It is quite valuable and I doubt that amount would make a very good casting alloy. It's pretty hard compared to lead, about like pure copper.

I would want to make sure that stuff isn't radioactive before buying it...

(I used to make body jewelry out of Nb. It is inert in the human body and anodizes really pretty colors.)

-Nobade

[swheeler]

Never even heard of Niobium (Nb) & had to look it up. Sounds strange that it would be in lead though with a melting Point of 4474°F

http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Nb.html

Maybe somebody that knows something about it will chime in.

Rick

But lead samples analized have titanium in them, with a melting point of 3135*F............................................ .................................................. ..........................
.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .........................

[sqlbullet]

I asked the same question a couple days ago:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?194577-Surplus-Lead-Alloy

The enlightened minds guessed that the XFA read something else as Niobium and offered a couple thoughts as to what it might be. It was suggested it would be very hard to get 6.9% Nb dissolved in lead, at least at any reasonable temp.

[atom73]

I dont see how it would be cost effective to add to an alloy. Adding copper seems far easier and less expensive and can give harder boolits (for those that want them). Otherwise, what is wrong with the abundant, available alloy that we have right now? Adding Niobium wont extend a stash, and the purpose for adding it can be accomplished with other cheaper easier metals.

[orisolo]

I would think it's a misread of the gun.
Bars looks pretty dirty. It should be "cleaned" before using the gun on it.
We normally scrap the surface before shooting with the gun otherwise you get false reading.
This is gov auction and with how much they probably care about the "junk" they sale, i doubt they would clean a small surface before shooting.

Anyway price looks fairly high already and probably will close higher. I dont think its gona be the "best deal in town" unless you can pickup yourself and don't pay for freight or driving few hundreds miles for it.

[Bent Ramrod]

Might they mean Sb (antimony)?

[7Acres]

Am I reading correctly the final bid was just shy of $1/lb?

[Grump]

Guys, sugar doesn't have to MELT to DISSOLVE in water.

Same with metals alloying with lead. It's not a suspension like chocolate in milk (Ever notice how when it settles, the top whiter layers are still sweet???)

[725]

Gotta be zombie ammo

[freebullet]

Gotta be zombie ammo

Haha if you do yer castin at 4000+ you gotta be makin zombie ammo.