Assessment of current trends in production of molybdenum, its alloys and molybdenum-containing products

Abstract

The unique combination of physical and chemical properties of molybdenum, required by modern material science, predetermines the variety of applications of molybdenum-containing alloys and molybdenumcontaining metal products: metallurgy, various-profile mechanical engineering, electro-thermal equipment, as well as the need to systematize and update the scientific and technological information accumulated in molybdenum metallurgy. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the current state of molybdenum production and application, including such issues as production of molybdenum trioxide, molybdenum and its alloys, industrial range of molybdenum and its alloys products, molybdenum consumption structure, identification of dominant trends and their forecasting in the medium term.Technical and economical information on production and consumption of molybdenum trioxide, molybdenum and its alloys was evaluated and systematized. The existing range of products from molybdenum and its alloys, the structure of world molybdenum consumption were evaluated, dominant trends and forecasts for the nearest period were determined. It was stated, that the main technology of molybdenum production is hydrogen reduction from high purity trioxide (up to 99.9%) in the form of powder followed by its compaction. The main producers of molybdenum are the United States, Chile, China, Peru, Canada and Mexico, which account for more than 90% of world production. In 2018, global consumption of molybdenum was about 262,000 tons, about 20% less than in 2011–2012. Ferromolybdenum is produced in Russia and abroad of various brands with molybdenum content of 50– 70%. Currently, the producers of ferromolybdenum in Russia are Sorsky, Zhireken ferromolybdenum and Nizhnevolzhsky ferroalloy plants. The total production capacity of Russian enterprises is estimated at 8.5 thousand tons of ferromolybdenum per year. Metallurgical enterprises of Russia declare production of 33 different types of intermediate products and final products from molybdenum and its alloys.