OCR Text |
Show Vanadium Vital, Too In the rush for the riches brought by uranium, its companion mineral vanadium has almost been forgotten by the man on the street. Vanadium is one of the most Important minerals mined In the Colorado Plateau and Is treated with just as much care as uranium in the processing mills. About 00 per cent of the vanadium produced on the Plateau ends up in steel as a toughener, or in some special alloy for high temperature use such as those required in making jet engines. One of the most important attributes of vanadium Is that it toughens steel without Impairing its ductility or hardness. For this reason substantial quantities of vanadium are used in the production of tool steels and in steel used for mechanical parts that must endure high dynamic stress such as springs, axles and parts of dlesel locomotives. |