Carbon‐limited Dissolution of Oxygen in Niobium

This article deals with results of the invsetigations connected with limitation of oxygen dissolution in niobium by means of creating of the carbide protective coating on the niobium surface or forming of the solid solution of carbon in niobium. It is shown that the carbide coating increases essentially the life time of the niobium parts for vacuum equipment and is consumed as a result of interaction with oxygen. The carbon dissolution in niobium does not hinder redox reaction at the Nb(C)/Nb 2 O 5 boundary and causes the conductivity increase of the dielectric film Nb 2 O 5 .