Hafnium
About Hafnium
Hafnium is a refractory metal always found alongside zirconium and separated during zirconium processing for nuclear applications. It has an exceptional ability to absorb neutrons, making it vital for nuclear reactor control rods. Hafnium is also increasingly important in advanced semiconductor gate insulators and aerospace superalloys for extreme temperature environments.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Hf
- Atomic Number
- 72
- Category
- Refractory Metal
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- High
- Top Producer
- France
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Hafnium In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Hafnium value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Hafnium across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Hafnium supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Hafnium is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Hafnium products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Hafnium.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Hafnium.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Hafnium, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Hafnium pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Hafnium value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Hafnium worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Hafnium.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.