Thermal and electrical characterization of additively manufactured pure Niobium for ultra-high temperature applications

The exploration of high-temperature withstanding metals has seen significant growth in various industrial applications, especially within the domain of nuclear physics. Materials used in such applications are often subject to extreme conditions, where temperature tolerance is a critical parameter that must be considered. This study investigates the potential of additively manufactured Niobium (Nb) as a comparable alternative to traditionally manufactured standard Niobium and other refractory metals such as tungsten, tantalum, and molybdenum, which are commonly used in high- temperature and ultra-high vacuum applications. Specifically, this work is motivated by the needs of the SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) project at INFN Legnaro, which requires materials that can endure continuous cycles of heating (up to 2000°C) and cooling suitable for components found in Ion Sources, Nuclear Reactors, Accelerators, RFQs, Particle Collimators.