Steel

Vanadium is most commonly added to carbon steels to produce a high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel. The addition of a small amount of vanadium can dramatically increase the tensile strength of HSLA steels, making vanadium one of the most cost-effective additives in steel alloys. These unique characteristics have made vanadium essential in construction applications worldwide, particularly in earthquake prone regions.

HSLA steel is used in steel rebar.  New construction standards introduced by the Chinese Standardization Administration in 2018 adjusted Chinese rebar standards to promote higher strength rebar production, promoting the greater use of vanadium.

Vanadium is also used in steel for the automotive industry, which requires high-strength, corrosion resistant components, and in wind turbines, ships, pipelines and bridges.