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What we use hafnium for

Where does it go, and why this element?

In 2016, 61% of hafnium went into nickel superalloys for jet engines and gas turbines. The rest went into plasma cutting tips, nuclear control rods, catalysts, optical coatings and computer chips. Hafnium absorbs neutrons and resists heat, and its oxide insulates transistors.

Last updated 14 October 2026.

Where it goes

Where it goes (World)
Superalloys 61%
Plasma cutting tips 15%
Nuclear control rods 11%
Catalyst precursors 7%
Optical coatings (oxide) 3%
Semiconductors 3%
2016. Shares of world use from the European Commission study of 2023, which repeats its factsheet of 2020 (data of ALKANE, 2017, for 2016). The UK assessment of 2024 gives a different split: superalloys for aircraft 43%, superalloys for turbines 18%, plasma cutting tips 15%, nuclear control rods 11%, catalyst precursors 7% and other 6% (after SCRREEN, 2023)1

Superalloys took 61% of world hafnium use in 2016, by the figures of the European Commission. Plasma cutting tips took 15% and nuclear control rods 11%. Catalyst precursors took 7%, optical coatings 3% and semiconductors 3%1. The European Commission estimated world use at 67 tonnes in 20162.

The UK assessment of 2024 gives a similar split. It divides superalloys into those for aircraft (43%) and those for turbines (18%)3. USGS says that superalloys were the leading use of hafnium metal in the United States in 20254.

Why this element

Superalloys. Hafnium is added in small amounts to nickel superalloys. These alloys are used for blades and vanes in jet engines and gas turbines. The alloy MAR-M 247 contains 1.5% hafnium2. This use needs the purest hafnium, with little zirconium2.

Nuclear control rods. Hafnium absorbs thermal neutrons well5. The control rods of nuclear submarines are one example6.

Plasma cutting. Hafnium has a very high melting point, so it is used in plasma torches6.

Computer chips. Hafnium oxide is an electrical insulator in microchips6. In 2007, Intel said that its new processors were the first to use its hafnium-based “high-k metal gate” design in their transistors7. Chip makers also buy hafnium tetrachloride for coatings8.

Catalysts. Hafnium catalysts are used to make polymers6.

What could replace it

USGS names two substitutes. Boron or silver-indium-cadmium alloys can replace hafnium in control rods. Zirconium can replace hafnium in some superalloys4. The European Commission says that silver-cadmium-indium rods are well established in many nuclear power plants2. It also names zirconium as a substitute in catalyst precursors2.

Where demand is going

The European Commission, after Moss and others (2011), forecasts that demand will grow by 3.6% for aircraft alloys and by 5% for other superalloys. It does not say over which period2.

Chip makers use more hafnium than before. In 2023, a trader at Lipmann Walton gave the share of the semiconductor and electronics industries. It was several percent in 2017 and 2018, and probably double that in 20238. Argus reported in 2023 that South Korea was looking for hafnium for satellites9.

In 2025, Argus reported more demand from chips and memory, and from gas turbines for AI data centers10. In 2026, the consultancy OnG Commodities wrote that electronics are quickly becoming the largest market for hafnium. It put all uses other than superalloys and electronics at 15 to 20% of demand11.

Sources

  1. 1

    European Commission (M. Grohol and C. Veeh), 2023. Study on the Critical Raw Materials for the EU 2023: Final Report , Tables of end uses and of global supply shares at the processing stage (hafnium rows); text on EU processing.

    Shares of world processing and of uses of hafnium.

    • Superalloys Hafnium Plasma cutting tips Hafnium Nuclear control rod Hafnium Catalyst precursor Hafnium Oxide for Optical Hafnium Semiconductors ... 61% C30 - Manufacture of other transport equipment 15% C25 - Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment 11% C25 - Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment 7% C20 - Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products 3% C26 - Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products 3% C26
    • Superalloys Hafnium Plasma cutting tips Hafnium Nuclear control rod Hafnium Catalyst precursor Hafnium Oxide for Optical Hafnium Semiconductors … 61% C30 - Manufacture of other transport equipment 15% C25 - Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment 11% C25 - Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment 7% C20 - Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products 3% C26 - Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products 3% C26
  2. 2

    European Commission (G.A. Blengini and others), 2020. Study on the EU's list of Critical Raw Materials (2020): Factsheets on Critical Raw Materials , Chapter 12, Hafnium (pp. 253-266).

    World production 2012-2016, producers, uses, recycling, prices, trade measures, the name.

    • The global consumption of hafnium in 2016 is estimated to 67 tonnes (ALKANE, 2017)
    • the major application for hafnium is as an alloy addition in polycrystalline nickel-based super alloys; for example, MAR-M 247 alloy contains 1.5% hafnium. These alloys are used in the aerospace industry both in turbine blades and vanes but also in industrial gas turbines.
    • The super-alloy industry requires the purest form of hafnium, crystal bars, with low zirconium content.
    • This option is well-established in numerous nuclear powerplants.
    • Zirconium can substitute hafnium in catalyst precursor applications.
    • Demand in hafnium is expected to increase by 3.6% for alloys in aerospace and by 5% for non-aerospace super alloys (Moss et al., 2011)
  3. 3

    UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, British Geological Survey, 2024. UK 2024 Criticality Assessment , Table 1 (criticality results); appendix tables of end uses (Hafnium, SCRREEN 2023), end-of-life recycling rates (Hafnium) and the recycling indicator.

    The UK critical minerals list of 2024, with end uses and end-of-life recycling rates.

    • Superalloys (aircraft) 43 … Superalloys (turbines) 18
  4. 4

    U.S. Geological Survey (Shelby N. Johnston), 2026. Zirconium and Hafnium, in Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 , Pp. 1-2: production and use, salient statistics (hafnium rows), events, world production and reserves, resources, substitutes, footnote 6.

    Hafnium prices from 2021 to 2025, US trade in hafnium, import sources, recycling, substitutes, and the statement that world data are not available.

    • The leading use of hafnium metal was in superalloys.
    • Boron or cadmium-silver-indium alloys can substitute for hafnium metal in nuclear control rods. Zirconium can be used interchangeably with hafnium in certain superalloys.
  5. 5

    U.S. Geological Survey (James V. Jones III, Nadine M. Piatak and George M. Bedinger), 2017. Zirconium and Hafnium, chapter V of Critical Mineral Resources of the United States (Professional Paper 1802) , Pp. V1-V26: summary, uses, supply and demand, geochemistry, deposit types, environmental considerations, health.

    Crustal abundance, the zirconium to hafnium ratio, separation, uses, recycling, toxicity and the environment.

    • Hafnium has a relatively high thermal neutron absorption cross section and thus is used in nuclear control rods.
  6. 6

    Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026. Hafnium - Element information, properties and uses , Sections Uses and properties, Biological role, Natural abundance, History.

    Discovery, name, first pure metal, uses, biological role.

    • Hafnium is a good absorber of neutrons and is used to make control rods, such as those found in nuclear submarines.
    • It also has a very high melting point and because of this is used in plasma welding torches.
    • Hafnium oxide is used as an electrical insulator in microchips
    • hafnium catalysts have been used in polymerisation reactions
  7. 7

    Intel Corporation, 2007. Intel Launches Hafnium-based 45nm Processors (press release) .

    The first processors with a hafnium-based high-k metal gate.

    • the processors are the first to use Intel’s Hafnium-based high-k metal gate (Hi-k) formula for the hundreds of millions of transistors inside these processors
  8. 8

    Reuters (Seher Dareen), republished by Kitco, 2023. Aerospace, electronic demand drive hafnium's 400% record surge .

    The price rise of 2022, traders' estimates of supply, Russian export licences, chip demand.

    • growing demand for hafnium tetrachloride coatings from semiconductor manufacturers for the next generation of nanochips
    • several percent in 2017-2018, now it’s probably double that number and growing
  9. 9

    Minor Metals Trade Association (Christina Belda, Argus), 2023. Navigating supply constraints for high-temp metals .

    Hafnium prices in February 2023 and demand for satellites.

    • Countries including South Korea have recently been seeking hafnium for satellite applications
  10. 10

    Argus Media (Cristina Belda), 2025. Hafnium approaches two-year high on fresh demand .

    Hafnium prices in October 2025, demand from chips and gas turbines, Chinese export licences, US imports from China in 2024.

    • Demand is coming from multiple sectors for hafnium metal and hafnium dioxide, especially for use in semiconductors and memory technologies.
    • The clamour for hafnium is also being fuelled by demand for gas turbines, particularly for powering AI data centers.
  11. 11

    Andrew Matheson and Patrick Stratton, OnG Commodities LLC, in The Crucible (Minor Metals Trade Association), 2026. Hafnium – Where will it end? .

    A consultancy's view of the hafnium market in 2026: prices, supply estimate, Western processors, uses, and its forecast. Published 7 August 2026.

    • Electronics, meanwhile, is quickly becoming the largest market for hafnium, thanks to the enormous boom in AI.
    • These other uses collectively account for 15-20% of hafnium demand