Pure vanadium is a bright white metal, and is soft and ductile. The metal has good structural strength and a low fission neutron cross section, making it useful in nuclear applications. Vanadium is used in producing rust resistant, spring, and high speed tools steels. It is an important carbide stabilizer in making steels. Vanadium foil is used as a bonding agent in cladding titanium to steel.
Vanadium pentoxide is used in ceramics and as a catalyst.
It is also used in producing a superconductive magnet with a field of 175,000 gauss. Vanadium and its compounds are toxic and should be handled with care. Ductile vanadium is commercially available.