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Molybdenum is a hard, gray metal, atomic number 42, that is chemically similar to tungsten and is used for some of the same purposes. It is also used in high-strength steels and to improve the hardness of low-carbon steels. The latter is useful for producing weldable armor, although this technique was not fully developed until after the war. Tool steels contained up to 9.5% molybdenum. Molybdenum sulphide is a valuable high-temperature lubricant.
Molybdenum is a byproduct of tungsten
and copper
mining and is moderately expensive ($0.69 a pound in 1941.)
The most important
source of molybdenum was the Climax mine in Colorado, which produced 66% of the world's output, while U.S. copper mines recovered another 28% as a byproduct. Japan's
supply was extremely limited, but Japan stockpiled the metal prior to war and also substituted tungsten from China.
References
Miller (2007)The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2006, 2011-2012 by Kent G. Budge. Index
