Molybdenum has a very high melting point so it is produced and sold as a grey powder. Many molybdenum items are formed by compressing the powder at a very high pressure: Production Of Molybdenum Metal Powder (2010).
Most molybdenum is used to make alloys. It is used in steel alloys to increase strength, hardness, electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion and wear (Molybdenum alloy iron and steel (1929)). These ‘moly steel’ alloys are used in parts of engines (Method Of Producing A Slide Surface On A Metal Workpiece (1977)).
Other alloys are used in heating elements, rock drill bits (https://tinyurl.com/y3qj6t33) and cutting tools: Wear-resistant molybdenum-iron boride alloy and method of making same (1980).
Molybdenum disulfide is used as a lubricant: Preparation of stable molybdenum disulfide lubricants (1954).
Other uses for molybdenum include catalysts for the petroleum industry (Process For Preparing A Molybdenum-Platinum-Based Catalyst For The Synthesis Of Benzene By Transalkylation (2018)), inks for circuit boards (Method Of Preparing Molybdenum Oxide Films (2015)), pigments (Process for producing chrome yellow and molybdenum orange pigments (1991)), and electrodes (Molybdenum-containing composite electrode (1968)).
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All patent information has been obtained from Espacenet (European Patent Office).