The main use of molybdenum is in the production of high specification stainless steels and tool steels. It has a unique combination of properties and molybdenum alloy steels are strong, easily welded and tough. They retain their strength at high temperatures and show great corrosion and pitting resistance, especially in highly corrosive salty environments.
Unlike lead, cadmium and ,other similar heavy metals, molybdenum has been shown to have a very low toxicity. In fact, low concentrations are beneficial to plant and animal life.
Metallic molybdenum was only identified in the late 18th century, but it was used in mixtures by the ancient Greeks and a 14th century Japanese sword has been found to contain the element.
Molybdenum was only made in industrial quantities in 1891, as an alloying element in armor plating. The armor was less dense that the tungsten alloy that was previously used. Molybdenum's low density led to its replacing tungsten in many steel alloys
Tungsten demand increased vastly in the 1914-18 World War. This increased the tendency to replace tungsten steels with molybdenum steels where hardness and impact resistance were needed. The demand caused a large increase in exploration efforts that led to the discovery of massive deposits in Colorado, USA
A drive to develop non-military applications and uses for molybdenum alloys followed the end of World War 1 and the fall in demand for armor plating and bomb casings. Molybdenum was included in small percentages in steels used for making car bodies.
Following research into the heat treatment of molybdenum steels in the 1930s, breakthroughs in the forging of molybdenum steels occurred and high speed alloys containing molybdenum were developed.
Alloy steels comprise the single biggest market segment, but molybdenum's diversity has also proven invaluable in superalloys, nickel base alloys, lubricants, chemicals, electronics and many other applications.
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