Niobium is a soft, grey, crystalline, ductile transition metal which has a very high melting point and it is corrosion resistant. Its melting point is 2468℃ and boiling point 4742℃. It
is has the largest magnetic penetration than any other elements and it also has superconductive properties, and a low capture cross section for thermal neutrons. These unique physical properties make it useful in super alloys used in the steel, aerospace, shipbuilding, nuclear, electronics, and medical industries.