Vanadium
Real Metals · Uncommon · Modern
A metal best known for making steel stronger at a fraction of the cost. Vanadium steel contains less than 0.2% vanadium yet is dramatically tougher and more impact-resistant than plain carbon steel. It is the preferred material for axles, crankshafts, and armour.
Identity
- Symbol
- V
- Atomic number
- 23
- Source
- Natural element
- Aliases
- V
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Bright white-silver, hard and ductile, resists corrosion from alkalis and acids
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 6.11 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1910 °C
- Boiling point
- 3407 °C
- Lighter
- Deepcoral Metal
- Denser
- Nitinol
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Medium
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 6.7
- Tensile strength
- 800 MPa
- Softer
- Tamahagane
- Harder
- Bloodiron
- Workability
- Moderate
- Brittleness
- Tough
- Malleability
- Moderate
- Ductility
- High
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- very high
- Reactivity
- low
Lore & Narrative
Henry Ford introduced vanadium steel to automobile manufacturing after seeing a French racing car wreck and realising the steel in its chassis was far lighter and stronger than anything available in America. The Model T was built on a vanadium steel frame.
- Notable uses
- High-strength steel, tool steel, titanium alloys, energy storage
- Forge uses
- steel alloys, tool steel, aerospace
- Worldbuilding traits
- strength-enhancing, modern, industrial, alloy-base
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