Niobium: The
Hypo-allergenic Metal
When I became a jewelry designer, one of my goals was to be
able to create jewelry for my mother. Like my mother, 10% of the population has
allergic reaction to some metals used in jewelry designs. Most of these
allergic reactions occur in the presence of nickel, but other metals have also
been known to cause problems as well. So
you can imagine how intrigued I was to learn about a metal that was not only
hypo-allergenic, but could be purchased in every color of the rainbow!
Niobium is a lustrous silvery white metal that is found
throughout the world, but the main producers of niobium are Brazil and Canada.
At room temperatures, niobium forms a transparent oxidizing film over the metal
through a reaction with the air. This film protects the metal from corrosion. It
also protects a person wearing this metal from actually touching the metal.
This characteristic contributes to Niobium’s hypoallergenic nature.
The fact that this metal is chemical stable and can be used
in its pure form without the need of other metals to create an alloy are also
part of the reason it is hypo-allergenic in nature.
Niobium is considered hypo-allergenic, and suitable for wear
by people with metal allergies. It is listed among the known “safe” metals for
body piercings by the American Academy of Dermatology. I know personally that my mother can wear
niobium, but she is allergic to all other metals with the exception of high
carat gold alloys.
But being hypo-allergenic is only one of the qualities that
makes this a wonderful metal for jewelry.
The best characteristic of niobium is its ability to take on a variety
of colors. By using a process known as anodizing, the transparent film covering
niobium can become thicker and change the color of the metal. Unlike dyes and
enamels, this color will not wash off since the metal itself is changing.
Thank you April for this informative lesson on niobium metal and how it is a great alternative for those with sensitive skin !
Check out April Williams niobium and hypo-allergenic jewelry designs at Eluna Jewelry Designs !
Store: http://www.elunajewelry.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/elunajewelry
