Molybdenum is a transition metal. The pure metal is silvery white in color and very hard, and has one of the highest melting points of all pure elements.
Molybdenum is used in aircraft and missile parts, and in filaments. Molybdenum finds use as a catalyst in the petroleum industry, especially in catalysts for removing organic sulfurs from petroleum products. Molybdenum disulphide is a good lubricant, especially at high temperatures. Molybdenum is also used in some electronic applications, as the conductive metal layers in thin-film transistors.
Due to its excellent thermal conductivity and low resistivity, molybdenum is also used widely in the furnace in-dustry for radiation screens, elements and sintering trays. The low thermal expansion of molybdenum, similar to that of silicon, makes it a frequently used material in the electronics industry for semiconductor supports and glass sealing. Molybdenum has good corrosion resistance particularly to hydrochloric acid. Unlike tantalum, niobium, titanium and zirconium molybdenum is not subject to hydrogen embrittlement.
